“The Fundamentalist Attack on Science: A Problem That Won’t Just Disappear”

You have to love this, from the camp that objects to "quote-mining. On page 8, Morris wrote this "quotation" from Phillip Johnson's Wedge of Truth,

"The proper metaphysical basis for science is not naturalism or materialism. . .the materialist story thrives only as long as it does not confront the biblical story [my emphasis] directly (2000, 152-162)."

How do you like that 10-page jump in the ellipsis?!TomG

October 12, 2006

October

10

Oct

12

12

2006

01:46 PM

1

01

46

PM

PDT

Copy Comment Link

Interesting link :-) A random quote from the paper:

The overwhelming testimony of scientists and philosophers has made it clear that ID is not real science and I do not have the room here to summarize their arguments. Instead I will discuss the current state of the evolution-ID debate, focusing on the circumstances which have allowed an almost universally discredited position among scientists to hold significant sway over laypersons as well as some important politicians. Much of this is due, I argue, to the fact that academics who specialize in dealing with the kinds of questions posed by the debate surrounding ID—namely scientists and philosophers—have been reticent to engage the ID supporters in the public arena. The result of this has been that ID supporters have been able to shape the discourse surrounding the ID controversy which, in turn, has led to a public that is increasingly misinformed about many of the key issues surrounding the dispute. I argue that the social and political ramifications at stake demand that academics (at least those who oppose ID) overcome their apprehensiveness in confronting their opponents publicly.

Apparently Ekstasis and stepehn Morris don't completely agree. The question, though, is, if this isn't "teaching the controversity" that didn't exist? Not that I am an IDist, but I still think there was a controversity, and now at least one anti-IDist thinks so too. Before soon, we'll be an entire army. Beware!!!Poul Willy Eriksen

October 11, 2006

October

10

Oct

11

11

2006

09:36 AM

9

09

36

AM

PDT

Copy Comment Link

Ditto on reading the whole thing. But it was interesting that Morris says "I refute the notion that the best way of addressing the threat posed by intelligent design is by ignoring it. I point out how academics’ unwillingness to speak publicly on the issue of intelligent design is symptomatic of a general reticence towards communicating with the public. Finally, I argue that this reticence is detrimental both to science and the general welfare." Oh sure, we have all noticed that the Darwinists and Secular Humanists are the shy, inhibited type. Particularly those on PT!! Yep, reticent to criticize, they are. But, perhaps we should be looking for other reasons to explain the extent that more of "them" are not vocal publicly. Such as, maybe many in academia pay lip service to NDE, but don't really believe it, or are not sure. Or maybe the ones that study ID have a tough time finding legitimate refutations. Or maybe, when they attempt to communicate NDE to the public as an explanation of everything from the cellular engineering to all aspects of the human mind and sociology the pontification ends up sounding, well, just a little contrived.Ekstasis

October 10, 2006

October

10

Oct

10

10

2006

08:21 PM

8

08

21

PM

PDT

Copy Comment Link

I didn't have the necessary patience to read all that, but IMHO the ND scientist don't comprehend one simple thing: INFORMATION is a product of a MIND.Sladjo

October 10, 2006

October

10

Oct

10

10

2006

03:50 PM

3

03

50

PM

PDT

Copy Comment Link

Scare mongering, and a bit offensive to the American people (in my view).Mats

October 9, 2006

October

10

Oct

9

09

2006

02:28 PM

2

02

28

PM

PDT

Copy Comment Link