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Suzan Mazur, an independent journalist and author of Darwin Overthrown: Hello Mechanobiology, takes aim at the outdated Darwinism of the College Board university preparation system: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

Ed George @101: Make sure that Alexa shows direct or indirect relation to UD. None of your examples meet that criteria. This is why I removed AiG and RTB from my list above. When you enter friendlyatheist.patheos.com note that what Alexa processes is really patheos.com instead of the longer name you enter. When you enter this: https://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibrary/home.php Alexa can’t find the page. The result you got was for berkeley.edu For this name https://natureecoevocommunity.nature.com Alexa measures nature.com None of that is related to UD according to Alexa information.jawa_{February 2, 2020
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Corrected list according to Alexa. Removed AiG and RTB. Alexa doesn’t show any (direct or indirect) relation to UD. Alexa Ranks for related websites: Website……………….01/31……………………………02/01……………………Top % EN:……………………….219,566………………………218,250………………….1 TO:………………………636,215……………………….635,771……………………1 UD:………………………662,429……………………..661,806…………………..1 PT:…………………..2,522,379…………………..2,520,054…………………..3 SW:…………………3,287,895………………….3,284,894…………………..4 TSZ:…………………3,605,624…………………3,602,299……………………4 PS:……………………………….?………………. not enough data available (extremely low traffic)jawa_{February 2, 2020
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Ed George @101: Your examples are invalid. Don’t qualify. You’re still comparing apples and alligators. I’ll explain why later. But maybe you’ll figure it out before I explain it. Hint: look carefully at the information provided by Alexa. Actually, to be consistent I should remove AiG and RTB from my list. Perhaps even TO should be removed. They don’t seem comparable according to Alexa.jawa_{February 1, 2020
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@89 EdGeorge
Until there is compelling evidence to the contrary, everything we see in the physical world, or exists because of the physical world, is part of nature.
What "world", Ed George? The one inside your head? https://strangenotions.com/naturalisms-epistemological-nightmare/Truthfreedom_{February 1, 2020
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Jawa, I picked an anti-gay site because of the many discussions held here about homosexuality and same sex marriage. Another common subject here is abortion. Pro choice.org...... 595617 Another subject discussed here frequently is atheism/materialism, etc. friendlyatheist.patheos.com....,,8750 And, occasionally, the discussions revolve around evolution. https://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibrary/home.php........... 1704 https://natureecoevocommunity.nature.com/.....1231Ed George_{February 1, 2020
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Ed George, I think that what attracts visits is the OP, more than the follow up discussion. Note the proportion of visits to posts. The list provided by jawa seems correct. The example you presented doesn’t fit in the comparison.pw_{February 1, 2020
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Ed George @98: The example you used has nothing to do with seriously discussing fundamental scientific issues. Philosophical questions can be discussed too. But it has to be done with respect of the dignity of every person. You’re comparing apples and alligators. That wouldn’t work. We have to compare websites that deal with the same issues. In this case discussing the origin and evolution of biological systems in a serious way. Some of the websites in the list don’t have discussions. But they are in the same category explained above. If you know of another website that can be compared, let’s include it too. But let’s stay away from anything that promotes hatred to other people. I believe that we all share a given condition called Imago Dei which implies dignity and requires mutual respect. The questions posted @97 are still awaiting serious response. Your attempt wasn’t serious. You may try again. Thanks.jawa_{February 1, 2020
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Jawa
Could it be that they don’t provide enough serious discussions as we have here in UD?
The Westboro Babtist Church site (godhatesfags.com) has an Alexa ranking of 482597, better than UD’s. I only mention this because a web site’s ranking isn’t a good measure of the level of serious discussion taking place on the website.Ed George_{February 1, 2020
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Ed George @85: That's an interesting observation you wrote. However, i think that the main topic in the OP for this thread is about important educational issues the society confronts these days. If you look at the information posted @82, note that this website UD is doing much better in internet traffic than other websites that are openly anti-ID, except the case of TO, which is not too far ahead of UD. See how PT, SW, TSZ and PS are o far behind UD. They all have in common that deal with boring nerdy issues that most people out there don't care much about. That's why the numbers are so high. But we compare websites with related topics: science, evolution, ID. Why are the websites PT and SW doing so badly these days? Any clues? Not so long ago they were doing much better. Actually they were in the same top percentile that UD is. Something must have happened recently, but I have no idea what it could be. Could it be that they don't provide enough serious discussions as we have here in UD? Yes, it's true that sometimes we have nonsense posted, like the case of PavelU's comments, but also we have very serious comments by other contributors. Fortunately the latter are the majority. I have argued for the banning of PavelU's posts, but this website is open enough to allow folks like PavelU to express their opinions, even if they are nonsense.jawa_{February 1, 2020
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UB
If either Ed or Sev can use dynamics (the equations of motion, etc) to explain a record of dynamics — then I am all ears.
I fail to see how this is in conflict with the definition I provided for nature.
everything we see in the physical world, or exists because of the physical world, is part of nature.
Ed George_{February 1, 2020
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. If either Ed or Sev can use dynamics (the equations of motion, etc) to explain a record of dynamics -- then I am all ears. Note: assuming your conclusion is not an answer.Upright BiPed_{February 1, 2020
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.
So your are claiming that the measurement function would exist if the universe didn’t exist.
No Ed, I said nothing like that. You see, unlike you Ed, I am not trying to find an undecidable to use as the means to ignore physical evidence. I take that stance from thoughtful scientists I have studied and read over the years. It represents an epistemological stance that is quite distinct from the one you regularly put on display here -- your comment at #91 being just another prime example.Upright BiPed_{February 1, 2020
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Ed George @ 91

Physical dynamics cannot establish the measurement function.
So your are claiming that the measurement function would exist if the universe didn’t exist. I don’t see how. And, more importantly, I don’t see how you demonstrate this.
Exactly. Just as the obvious objection to BA77's claim that quantum mechanics shows nothing exists until it is observed is that, if that is the case, what is being observed in the first place?Seversky_{February 1, 2020
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"Naturalism", according to the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy,
...has no very precise meaning in contemporary philosophy. Its current usage derives from debates in America in the first half of the last century. The self-proclaimed “naturalists” from that period included John Dewey, Ernest Nagel, Sidney Hook and Roy Wood Sellars. These philosophers aimed to ally philosophy more closely with science. They urged that reality is exhausted by nature, containing nothing “supernatural”, and that the scientific method should be used to investigate all areas of reality, including the “human spirit” (Krikorian 1944; Kim 2003).
"Physicalism" or "materialism", according to Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy,
is the thesis that everything is physical, or as contemporary philosophers sometimes put it, that everything supervenes on the physical. The thesis is usually intended as a metaphysical thesis, parallel to the thesis attributed to the ancient Greek philosopher Thales, that everything is water, or the idealism of the 18th Century philosopher Berkeley, that everything is mental. The general idea is that the nature of the actual world (i.e. the universe and everything in it) conforms to a certain condition, the condition of being physical. Of course, physicalists don't deny that the world might contain many items that at first glance don't seem physical — items of a biological, or psychological, or moral, or social nature. But they insist nevertheless that at the end of the day such items are either physical or supervene on the physical.
Seversky_{February 1, 2020
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UB
Physical dynamics cannot establish the measurement function.
So your are claiming that the measurement function would exist if the universe didn’t exist. I don’t see how. And, more importantly, I don’t see how you demonstrate this.Ed George_{February 1, 2020
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. Ed, Physical dynamics cannot establish the measurement function. There, now you have compelling* physical evidence (which has been well known for your entire lifetime). *you have had vast amounts of compelling physical evidence ... you simply choose to ignore that evidence, and assume your conclusions instead.Upright BiPed_{February 1, 2020
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EF
Enlighten us, Ed George. What does “nature” mean? (Not holding my breath).
Until there is compelling evidence to the contrary, everything we see in the physical world, or exists because of the physical world, is part of nature.Ed George_{February 1, 2020
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Ed George
Translation...
Triggered :) * They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.* Dodging questions is deception. Enlighten us, Ed George. What does "nature" mean? (Not holding my breath).Truthfreedom_{February 1, 2020
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EF
Translation : Ed George has no idea what “nature” means. Definitions are hard, let’s try some *attempt* at irony instead.
Translation: EF uses the “translation” deception rather than acknowledge that much of the discussion in this thread is lame.Ed George_{February 1, 2020
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A few people arguing what “nature" means...
Translation : Ed George has no idea what "nature" means. Definitions are difficult, let's try some *attempt* at irony instead. Thank you jawa.Truthfreedom_{February 1, 2020
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Jawa
February 1, 2020 at 10:04 am This discussion thread made it into the top 5 most popular posts in the last month:
That doesn’t speak well for this site. A discussion with a few people arguing what “nature” means, a tangent on the grammatical correctness of a sentence, some nonsense about bonobos, and another tangent about who I am and whether or not I have ever been banned at UD.Ed George_{February 1, 2020
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This discussion thread made it into the top 5 most popular posts in the last month: Popular Posts (Last 30 Days)
Karsten Pultz: Why random processes cannot produce… (1,320) Abortion, the leading cause of deaths worldwide in 2019 (1,147) Thinking More Deeply About Causation (1,130) At Oscillations: How the College Board skews… (1,003) Recognizing Design is to the Engineer, as Seafaring… (977)
Susan Mazur continues to attract readers to her writings.jawa_{February 1, 2020
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PavelU @76: I see you agree with Bob O'H stating that there's nothing wrong with the quoted sentence from the paper you cited. Are you sure? Think again.PeterA_{February 1, 2020
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Alexa Ranks for related websites: Website...................01/31.................................02/01........................Top % AiG:………………………44,300..............................44,269...................0.1 EN:……………………….219,566...........................218,250......................1 RTB:……………………417,037..............................422,007.....................1 TO:………………………636,215............................635,771........................1 UD:………………………662,429..........................661,806.......................1 PT:…………………..2,522,379.......................2,520,054.......................3 SW:…………………3,287,895......................3,284,894.......................4 TSZ:…………………3,605,624.....................3,602,299........................4 PS:……………………………….?................... not enough data available (extremely low traffic)jawa_{February 1, 2020
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www.biomedcentral.com/collections/animalbody*duh* Harry Potter is not science.Truthfreedom_{February 1, 2020
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PavelU, the "neuronal illusion", keeps posting. https://uncommondescent.com/intelligent-design/the-design-of-life-even-in-a-rats-whiskers/#comment-691896 How can an "illusory" entity know what "reality" is? Asylum is where you live. You materialists have locked your-"selves" (hehehe) in. Delusions of existence, living contradictions, absurdity and pretensions. Who won the prize for explaining the OOL in 2015? Oh wait, another materialist delusion. Alice in Wonderland. :)Truthfreedom_{February 1, 2020
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Here's a very recent series of papers that explain animal body-plan evolution in details: https://www.biomedcentral.com/collections/animalbodyplan ID proponents might benefit from reading these papers in order to educate themselves and stop believing in their "design" illusion.PavelU_{February 1, 2020
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If you can’t figure it out, remind me not to leave my granddaughter alone with you.
I knew it. No logical explanation. Evolution is the enemy of knowledge. "Just-so, "it happened", "it might be", "billions of years", "randomness, you know". That is what evolution means. Nothing that can stand logical scrutiny. @ PavelU: you just have wishful thinking. And regarding the OOL: 150 years of speculation. Or 150 years of nothing, if you prefer. What about the "warm little pond"? Has it dried up? "Once upon a time"... PavelU the "neuronal illusion" with his dubious existence :) https://uncommondescent.com/intelligent-design/the-design-of-life-even-in-a-rats-whiskers/#comment-691896Truthfreedom_{February 1, 2020
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EF
Me killing my children = A female bonobo killing its offspring. If we do not punish bonobos, WHY should I be punished?
If you can’t figure it out, remind me not to leave my granddaughter alone with you.Ed George_{January 31, 2020
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PeterA @72: Bob O’H is right. That sentence you seem so obsessed about is written correctly. You all ID fans don't like evo-devo because this growing field of biology is weakening your ideas.PavelU_{January 31, 2020
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