At Oscillations: How the College Board skews students toward Darwinism

_{Denyse O'Leary

January 27, 2020

Darwinism, Intelligent Design, science education}

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https://www.amazon.com/Darwin-Overthrown-Mechanobiology-Suzan-Mazur/dp/0578452669

Suzan Mazur, an independent journalist and author of Darwin Overthrown: Hello Mechanobiology, takes aim at the outdated Darwinism of the College Board university preparation system:

At Oscillations, she notes that the content of its biology course and exam framework devotes 24 pages or 22% to Darwinian natural selection and describes it in the “Essential Knowledge” section as “a major mechanism of evolution.” The College Board, she reports, explicitly says that: “The principles of natural selection and its components appear throughout the course.”

She sees this as a “catastrophe” (Suzan Mazur, “College Board & The Natural Selection Racket” at Oscillations) because “the evolution paradigm has shifted” and – following Eugene Koonin – natural selection is not taken seriously any more as an explain-all.

Is the stuff she identifies designed to insulate students from the ferment going on in biology or is just the outcome of educrats’ self-insulation…? Maybe both?

Mazur has got to be one of the best-connected people writing about evolution today. Her nose for haven’t-we-seen-this-show-before?, oh-not-THAT-again?, used-to-was, done-to-death, and this-will-wash-no-more is the outcome of having interviewed many movers and shakers (and maybe some slackers and fakers) and kept notes over the years. She should certainly be better known.

The Paradigm Shifters: Overthrowing ‘the Hegemony of the Culture of Darwin’ is also a good introduction to what’s changing in biology.

Comments

Jawa, apparently this is where I found the link between TO and Larry Moran. https://sandwalk.blogspot.com/2015/03/does-talkorigins-still-exist.html And apparently, he retired in 2017. https://sandwalk.blogspot.com/2017/06/some-of-my-former-students.htmlEd George_{February 13, 2020
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@155 EG
Truthfreedom: Says the atheist materialist with his irrational self-defeating philosophy.
EG: Then I guess it is a good thing that I am neither an atheist nor a materialist. Did you have something of substance to say, or should I just ignore your comments? (Probably a rhetorical question).

And you are?Truthfreedom_{February 13, 2020
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Apparently Alexa provides more information to the subscribers. But the connection between TO and PT seems so conspicuous that I would expect that association to show up in the free information. Could this be a misunderstanding or a bug in their software?jawa_{February 13, 2020
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Also I may have to review the associations Alexa shows Maybe I missed some of them Because TO is explicitly linked to PT I would expect Alexa to show TO in PT stats. UD is shown in PT, but TO isn’t.jawa_{February 13, 2020
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Ed George, Did professor Moran retire in 2016? I thought he retired more recently. Anyway, it’s interesting that TO, a website that hasn’t updated even their copyright stamp since 2016, has more traffic than PT which is still active and is linked very conspicuously from TO.jawa_{February 13, 2020
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EG, you have made several attacks against the Christian faith and have tried to use moral relativism as a motivation for further pushing questionable but fashionable trends being advanced under colour of law. Accordingly, I replied at 149 above, and have challenged you to respond substantially. KF PS: I see you disclaim being a materialist. However, that is not a necessary requirement for being involved in promoting evolutionary materialistic scientism, in a world where "fellow traveller" has significance. The core worldviews issue is, that we are inherently under moral government, starting with first duties of reason. Duties, such as to truth, right reason, prudence [so, to warrant], to sound conscience, to fairness and justice, etc. Duties, which are implicit premises in your argument (and for all serious discussion). That poses the issue of bridging the IS-OUGHT gap, and post Hume such can only be resolved at reality root; on pain of ungrounded ought. There is just one serious candidate on the table, given that to bridge the gap, we need the root to be inherently good and utterly wise. What is at stake otherwise -- as crops up often enough in discussions on roots of morality in contexts dominated by evolutionary materialism and its fellow travellers -- is reduction of OUGHT to delusion, delusion that pervades our whole rationality. Grand delusion. Which, is absurd. In short, the issue is central.kairosfocus_{February 13, 2020
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Jawa, Sandwalk is his personal blog. But it is my understanding that TO was hosted on a server located in his office. When he retired, it was moved elsewhere.Ed George_{February 12, 2020
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Ed George, I think Dr Moran’s blog is SW, which is still active.jawa_{February 12, 2020
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Jawa, I may be mistaken but I believe that TO was hosted on a server by Larry Moran. He retired a couple years ago.Ed George_{February 12, 2020
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I looked at TO website and found this: Copyright © 1998-2016 Archive And did not see posts after 2015 But they have a very visible link to PT, which still runs. How can we explain that TO has a much higher Alexa rank than PT?jawa_{February 12, 2020
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TF
Cute. Says the atheist materialist with his irrational self-defeating philosophy.
Then I guess it is a good thing that I am neither an atheist nor a materialist. Did you have something of substance to say, or should I just ignore your comments? (Probably a rhetorical question).Ed George_{February 12, 2020
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Alexa ranks for related websites today: EN:……....230,071..........1% TO:……....505,361............1% UD:……....638,347............1% PT:……..2,502,046...........3% SW:……3,076,179.............4% TSZ:…...6,163,423............7% TO's rank has bounced back up lately, though still remaining far below EN. PS has sunk so deep that it has fallen off Alexa's radar. No idea why. Note the Alexa associations: EN: TO, UD, 864 TO: EN, 2,757 UD: EN, TSZ, 652 PT: UD, 1,022 SW: UD, 473 TSZ: UD, PS, 44 PS: TSZ, 15 We shouldn't compare apples and alligators, as Ed George suggested. :)jawa_{February 12, 2020
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We are slowly realizing that some of the Christian values that we have taken as “gospel” for the last couple centuries do not hold up to scrutiny.
Cute. Says the atheist materialist with his irrational self-defeating philosophy. Your atheist faith is nothing more than that, another faith. Another religion. Your nihilist cult.Truthfreedom_{February 12, 2020
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Control of locomotor speed, arousal, and hippocampal theta rhythms by the nucleus incertus
Navigation requires not only the execution of locomotor programs but also high arousal and real-time retrieval of spatial memory that is often associated with hippocampal theta oscillations. However, the neural circuits for coordinately controlling these important processes remain to be fully dissected.

It is thus possible that different neuron populations within the NI synergistically regulate various behavioral processes by acting at specific cell types in distinct downstream brain areas. Dissecting the functionally relevant GABAergic and glutamatergic NMB outputs in a cell type- and brain area-specific manner will be an exciting topic to pursue in the future.
OLV_{February 12, 2020
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Multiple Rhythm-Generating Circuits Act in Tandem with Pacemaker Properties to Control the Start and Speed of Locomotion
In vertebrates, specific command centers in the brain can selectively drive slow-explorative or fast-speed locomotion. However, it remains unclear how the locomotor central pattern generator (CPG) processes descending drive into coordinated locomotion. Here, we reveal, in adult zebrafish, a logic of the V2a interneuron rhythm-generating circuits involving recurrent and hierarchical connectivity that acts in tandem with pacemaker properties to provide an ignition and gear-shift mechanism to start locomotion and change speed. A comprehensive mapping of synaptic connections reveals three recurrent circuit modules engaged sequentially to increase locomotor speed. The connectivity between V2a interneurons of different modules displayed a clear asymmetry in favor of connections from faster to slower modules. The interplay between V2a interneuron pacemaker properties and their organized connectivity provides a mechanism for locomotor initiation and speed control. Thus, our results provide mechanistic insights into how the spinal CPG transforms descending drive into locomotion and align its speed with the initial intention.
OLV_{February 12, 2020
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KF @149: Excellent!pw_{February 12, 2020
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EG, nope, as a civilisation we are re-learning a very old lesson (likely the hard way), as Plato warned us about ever so long ago:
Ath [in The Laws, Bk X 2,360 ya]. . . .[The avant garde philosophers and poets, c. 360 BC] say that fire and water, and earth and air [i.e the classical "material" elements of the cosmos], all exist by nature and chance, and none of them by art . . . [such that] all that is in the heaven, as well as animals and all plants, and all the seasons come from these elements, not by the action of mind, as they say, or of any God, or from art, but as I was saying, by nature and chance only [ --> that is, evolutionary materialism is ancient and would trace all things to blind chance and mechanical necessity] . . . . [Thus, they hold] that the principles of justice have no existence at all in nature, but that mankind are always disputing about them and altering them; and that the alterations which are made by art and by law have no basis in nature, but are of authority for the moment and at the time at which they are made.-
[ --> Relativism, too, is not new; complete with its radical amorality rooted in a worldview that has no foundational IS that can ground OUGHT, leading to an effectively arbitrary foundation only for morality, ethics and law: accident of personal preference, the ebbs and flows of power politics, accidents of history and and the shifting sands of manipulated community opinion driven by "winds and waves of doctrine and the cunning craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming . . . " cf a video on Plato's parable of the cave; from the perspective of pondering who set up the manipulative shadow-shows, why.]
These, my friends, are the sayings of wise men, poets and prose writers, which find a way into the minds of youth. They are told by them that the highest right is might,
[ --> Evolutionary materialism -- having no IS that can properly ground OUGHT -- leads to the promotion of amorality on which the only basis for "OUGHT" is seen to be might (and manipulation: might in "spin") . . . ]
and in this way the young fall into impieties, under the idea that the Gods are not such as the law bids them imagine; and hence arise factions [ --> Evolutionary materialism-motivated amorality "naturally" leads to continual contentions and power struggles influenced by that amorality at the hands of ruthless power hungry nihilistic agendas], these philosophers inviting them to lead a true life according to nature, that is,to live in real dominion over others [ --> such amoral and/or nihilistic factions, if they gain power, "naturally" tend towards ruthless abuse and arbitrariness . . . they have not learned the habits nor accepted the principles of mutual respect, justice, fairness and keeping the civil peace of justice, so they will want to deceive, manipulate and crush -- as the consistent history of radical revolutions over the past 250 years so plainly shows again and again], and not in legal subjection to them [--> nihilistic will to power not the spirit of justice and lawfulness].
All that has changed is there is a strong push to move us to evolutionary materialist secularism and fellow travellers. As you know, a central test is the ongoing holocaust of our living posterity in the womb, which per Guttmacher-UN figures is proceeding at about another million per week. That indicts us globally as utterly morally bankrupt. A sounder approach, less fraught with hazards for our civilisation would be to recognise that we are inescapably morally governed creatures. That starts with implicit premises in your argument, which your evolutionary materialism would overthrow: first duties, to truth, to right reason, to prudence, to sound conscience, to fairness, to justice etc. Discard those and we don't have a discussion or argument or even a quarrel. Just, a fight as to who will impose their will. Of course, nowadays, the idea that there is such built in law is "controversial," but only because some people do not want to face the implication of our being under moral government. Having to bridge IS and OUGHT, only feasible at reality root. And requiring that the source of worlds is inherently good and utterly wise. But in the end, the choice is that or suicidal nihilism. KF PS: And since you have again specifically attacked the Christian faith, I point you here, to a discussion on its core warrant at 101 level. I suggest to you that unless you have a very good argument as to why that warrant fails, you are being dangerously irresponsible. Your grounds for such a confident manner dismissal are ______, and why they hold water in the teeth of evidence as just linked is _______ . Let's hear your very good reasons, especially i/l/o the minimal facts considerations.kairosfocus_{February 11, 2020
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KF
Jawa, since c 2015 – 16, there has been a major cold civil war and culture conflict development in the USA.
Yes, we are slowly catching up with the rest of the world. We are slowly realizing that some of the Christian values that we have taken as “gospel” for the last couple centuries do not hold up to scrutiny. Men can no longer insist that their wives be subservient to them. We can no longer deprive homosexuals of happiness, employment, career advancement and equal treatment in society. We can no longer judge women who enjoy sex with multiple partners different than we do men. We can no longer treat pregnant teens as fallen women. We can no longer deny services to inter-racial couples or homosexual couples and claim religious freedom as an excuse to discriminate. This is a civil war that is long over due.Ed George_{February 10, 2020
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KF, “ Building a theistic Worldview: first principles and first truths” Excellent! Thanks.pw_{February 10, 2020
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Pw, on worldviews issues, cf here. KFkairosfocus_{February 10, 2020
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PPS More https://uncommondescent.com/popular-culture/a-reminder-or-two-to-our-civilisation-from-plato/kairosfocus_{February 10, 2020
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Jawa, since c 2015 - 16, there has been a major cold civil war and culture conflict development in the USA. That has sucked Oxygen out of almost any specialised issue. It has not changed the foundational significance of worldviews, logic and first principles and linked foundations of science issues, or of origins issues. Indeed, going back to Plato in The Laws Bk X, guess where the radical relativism, amorality, perversity, nihilistic factionalism and general lawlessness are coming from? Further to this, it is quite clear that FSCO/I has just one credible source, design. Similarly, the cell has in it DNA, which implements machine code for building proteins, and is a linguistic phenomenon applied in key part to algorithms, which are inherently purposeful. Life, credibly, is designed. In our reasoning, we are inescapably morally governed by duties to truth, right reason, prudence, justice and fairness (so, rights) etc, constituting built in law and the framework for responsible bodies of knowledge and just civil law. Such moral government can only be founded in the root of reality, which is required to be inherently good and utterly wise, as well as capable of founding fine tuned universes fitted for cell based life, and more. These things of course cut clean across the intent and assumptions of the juggernaut of radical secularists and fellow travellers who wish to steamroller our civilisation. So, I am not particularly concerned on popularity trends; sooner or later foundational issues will have to be faced and we need to be ready for the unpredictable crisis that will trigger such a focus. One does not have to intentionally jump over a cliff to fall, cliffs by definition are prone to crumble and collapse underfoot. By ignoring the balance on merits and trying to impose a ruinous agenda -- history warns, but is being ignored as usual -- the radicals are pushing us to the brink of an abyss. KF PS: Plato's warning:
Ath [in The Laws, Bk X 2,360 ya]. . . .[The avant garde philosophers and poets, c. 360 BC] say that fire and water, and earth and air [i.e the classical "material" elements of the cosmos], all exist by nature and chance, and none of them by art . . . [such that] all that is in the heaven, as well as animals and all plants, and all the seasons come from these elements, not by the action of mind, as they say, or of any God, or from art, but as I was saying, by nature and chance only [ --> that is, evolutionary materialism is ancient and would trace all things to blind chance and mechanical necessity] . . . . [Thus, they hold] that the principles of justice have no existence at all in nature, but that mankind are always disputing about them and altering them; and that the alterations which are made by art and by law have no basis in nature, but are of authority for the moment and at the time at which they are made.-
[ --> Relativism, too, is not new; complete with its radical amorality rooted in a worldview that has no foundational IS that can ground OUGHT, leading to an effectively arbitrary foundation only for morality, ethics and law: accident of personal preference, the ebbs and flows of power politics, accidents of history and and the shifting sands of manipulated community opinion driven by "winds and waves of doctrine and the cunning craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming . . . " cf a video on Plato's parable of the cave; from the perspective of pondering who set up the manipulative shadow-shows, why.]
These, my friends, are the sayings of wise men, poets and prose writers, which find a way into the minds of youth. They are told by them that the highest right is might,
[ --> Evolutionary materialism -- having no IS that can properly ground OUGHT -- leads to the promotion of amorality on which the only basis for "OUGHT" is seen to be might (and manipulation: might in "spin") . . . ]
and in this way the young fall into impieties, under the idea that the Gods are not such as the law bids them imagine; and hence arise factions [ --> Evolutionary materialism-motivated amorality "naturally" leads to continual contentions and power struggles influenced by that amorality at the hands of ruthless power hungry nihilistic agendas], these philosophers inviting them to lead a true life according to nature, that is,to live in real dominion over others [ --> such amoral and/or nihilistic factions, if they gain power, "naturally" tend towards ruthless abuse and arbitrariness . . . they have not learned the habits nor accepted the principles of mutual respect, justice, fairness and keeping the civil peace of justice, so they will want to deceive, manipulate and crush -- as the consistent history of radical revolutions over the past 250 years so plainly shows again and again], and not in legal subjection to them [--> nihilistic will to power not the spirit of justice and lawfulness].
kairosfocus_{February 10, 2020
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Jawa and Ed George: What do you guys mean by “the main worldview conflict” ? What does that expression mean to each of you?pw_{February 9, 2020
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@141 Ed George Your post does not make any sense (not surprising at all, by the way). You say things that you do not support and think you are "making a point". Well, coming from someone who says that "killing your children increases their fitness"...Truthfreedom_{February 9, 2020
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Jawa
It’s a general trend that hits all the websites dealing with the main worldview conflict.
The fact that we are seeing these trends strongly suggest that this is not the main worldview conflict, at least not for the vast majority of people. Although, I do find it interesting that while we are seeing a decline in interest in ID, we are also seeing a decline in interest in Christianity, homosexual, same sex marriage and transgendered,Ed George_{February 9, 2020
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@138 Ed George
I think that was the point I was making.
And I think you are trying to equivocate and, again, you have failed miserably.Truthfreedom_{February 9, 2020
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Ed George, Apparently you've misunderstood my point. It seems like many people in this post-truth age we're going through don't care about anything, that's why all the websites in the list I posted have lower traffic than they used to. It's a general trend. It's not only UD. Amazon Alexa website stats seem more comprehensive than the Google trends. But both tools show the same trend. UD, TO, PT, SW, TSZ, are going down in traffic. It's a general trend that hits all the websites dealing with the main worldview conflict. https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&geo=US&q=Uncommon%20descent,Pandas%20Thumb,Sandwalk,Talk%20Originsjawa_{February 9, 2020
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Jawa
it seems like people in general don’t care much about this debate lately.
I think that was the point I was making. The interest in ID, regardless of the site, has declined dramatically in the last several years.Ed George_{February 9, 2020
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@135 Ed George: "I think it is fair to say that UD and related sites have seen a declining trend for several years." Does that include PT, SW, TSZ, PS too? Oh, never mind, my question was timely answered by Truthfreedom in his post right after yours. Interest over time Numbers represent search interest relative to the highest point on the chart for the given region and time. A value of 100 is the peak popularity for the term. A value of 50 means that the term is half as popular. A score of 0 means there was not enough data for this term. it seems like people in general don't care much about this debate lately.jawa_{February 9, 2020
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@135 Ed George: You conveniently *forgot* this part? https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&geo=US&q=Uncommon%20descent,Pandas%20Thumb,Sandwalk,Talk%20Origins I think it is fair to say that "evolutionist" sites have seen a declining trend for several years. We know evolution supporters have tremendous problems with the concept "comparison". Just sayin' :)Truthfreedom_{February 9, 2020
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