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Evolution vs. Creationism: An Introduction
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Average Rating:  out of 37 Reviews
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Price: $21.95
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Sale: $10.50
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Manufacturer: University of California Press
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EAN (European Article Number): 9780520246508
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Number of Items: 1
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Binding: Paperback
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Author: Eugenie C. Scott
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Publisher: University of California Press
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Edition: 1
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Dewey Decimal Number: 576.8
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Publication Date: 2005-10-12
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Reading Level: 298
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Description: Almost eighty years after the Scopes trial, the debate over the teaching of evolution continues to rage. There is no easy resolution--it is a complex topic with profound scientific, religious, educational, and legal implications. How can a student or parent understand this issue, which is such a vital part of education? Evolution vs. Creationism provides a badly needed, comprehensive, and balanced survey. Written by one of the leading advocates for the teaching of evolution in the United states, this accessible resource provides an introduction to the many facets of the current debate--the scientific evidence for evolution, the legal and educational basis for its teaching, and the various religious points of view--as well as a concise history of the evolution-creationism controversy.
Each of the four sections of Evolution vs. Creationism provides a resource that will assist the reader in better understanding these issues. The first section addresses the nature of how evolution works as part of the scientific enterprise, as well as a summary of the relationship between religious beliefs and science. A section on the history of the controversy provides a handy synopsis of the lengthy struggles, from before Darwin to the present day, between advocates of creationism and the proponents of evolution. A collection of primary source documents addressing cosmology, law, education, and religious issues from all sides of the debate constitute the third section. The book concludes with a selection of resources for further information for those who wish to study the topic in more depth.
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Customer Reviews
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Review Summary: An Excellent Introduction Explaining Why Evolution Is Science & Creationism Isn't |
Date: 2007-06-08 |
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Details: Physical anthropologist Eugenie C. Scott has had the daunting, indeed Herculean, task of defending the teaching of genuine science - by this I mean of course primarily evolutionary biology - in science classrooms throughout the United States as executive director of the National Center for Science Education. Hers has truly been the battle of "David" versus "Goliath", or rather, an asymmetrical conflict between advocates of excellent American scientific educationg against creationist advocates benefitting from their association with affluent anti-evolutionist Conservative think tanks like the Discovery Institue, the intellectual headquarters of the "Intelligent Design" movement. If a Purple Heart could be bestowed upon her for valor, then she would have earned one hundreds of times, for successfully assisting and coordinating efforts to defeat by legal means, numerous attempts to introduce Intelligent Design and other forms of scientific creationism into science classrooms. Here in "Evolution vs. Creationism: An Introduction", she provides an invaluable introduction to the Evolution/Creation controversy (Of which I do include Intelligent Design since it is creationism's latest, most intellectually sophisticated, variety, having "evolved" from other, older forms of creationism.). And yet she has done a fine job trying to be fair in her presentation of the Creationist "world-view", by serving as a moderator at an Intelligent Design debate held a few years ago at the American Museum of Natural History (The pro-side was argued by leading Intelligent Design advocates William Dembski and Michael Behe; the con by philosopher Robert Pennock and cell biologist Ken Miller.). Once more she succeeds in this book by offering a more nuanced, balanced perspective in her discussion of Creationism, even as she makes a most eloquent case in support of genuine science, and especially, of evolutionary biology (Inspite of being "black-listed" by Creationist writers unwilling to grant her permission to quote directly from their published works, acting more like press censors working for Totalitarian regimes than "sincere" advocates seeking "balance" in science classrooms for their irrational, unscientific views to be discussed along with genuine science, she still tried to demonstrate their perspective by referring to their works.).
Eugenie Scott's "Evolution vs. Creationism: An Introduction" is an excellent introduction to this burning issue which should be read by anyone interested in ensuring quality science education in America. In her opening section on evolution and the nature of science, Scott is quite emphatic as to what science is - and what it isn't. She stresses not only its inherently rational character, but also the key feature which distinguishes it from a religiously-motivated pseudoscience such as Intelligent Design; that it is an objective search for an inconstant, ever shifting "truth", whose very nature undergoes self-assessment and correction. She does an admirable job describing the scientific method, and reviewing the overwhelming scientific evidence for the reality of biological evolution. The second section explores the intellectual and philosophical history of the search for an adequate explanation explaining biological diversity, beginning with ancient Greek philosophers and concluding with early reaction to the publication of Charles Darwin's "On the Origin of Species" from Christians in 19th Century Europe and America. The third section is her thorough, yet terse, exploration of 20th Century Creationism in the United States and of the many legal challenges mounted by creationists against the teaching of evolution (Those interested in more in-depth coverage may find more useful Robert Pennock's "Tower of Babel" for its extensive overview of all the different breeds of creationism, including Intelligent Design.). Originally published by a private Connecticut-based publisher, "Evolution vs. Creationism: An Introduction" is available now from the University of California Press, which means that is now available to as wide a readership as possible. Without question, it is still one of the best - if not the best - introductions to both the nature of the scientific enterprise and the religiously-oriented origins of so-called "Scientific Creationism". |
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Review Summary: Sad -- this book sells "philosophy" as "science" |
Date: 2007-05-30 |
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Details: If you want a reasoned analysis of the evidences for and against evolution and intelligent design, then keep looking. This book is too shallow for any student of science and is a veiled attempt to sell the religion of Humanism. I would recommend instead Debating Design: From Darwin to DNA or What Is Creation Science.
I found no convincing arguments in favor of evolution in this book. There was no explanation of how inanimate elements conspired to form the first living cell or how new phyla of animals arose by mere natural selection. There was no scientific explanation for how language found its way into DNA or any rebuttal of irreducible complexity. This shallowness by itself is not consequential; but consider the fact that this author actively campaigns to censor anyone who presents scientific evidence that contradicts Darwin's Victorian-era philosophy, and you've got a recipe for scientifically illiterate students.
You know your position is tenuous if your only strategy is to prevent people from hearing your opposition. If Darwinism is so infallible, you'd think she'd want to allow open discussions in the classroom about its pros and cons--if only to demonstrate its infallibility. But when you live in a house of cards, you don't exactly welcome building inspectors. |
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Review Summary: Common sense |
Date: 2007-05-27 |
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Details: This book tells it like it is Evolution is a fact and creationism is all based on faith with no evidence. This book is great for defending science and putting the creationists in there place. |
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Review Summary: religion redefined |
Date: 2007-02-12 |
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Details: Every piece of written word is written from the perspective of the author. Eugenie Scott's views on the origin of life and her religion, or as she labels it, "cultural perspective", is hers to propose. We do have to realize that religion is what shapes interpretations and this book was written in that context. Please do not try to defend atheism as a neutral position. A religion is what you believe and have faith in.
When an entity presents beliefs in an convincing manner where it will take over turf currently occupied by the dominant religion then defensive backlash from the establishment is to be expected. The creationists have, through a broad range of intellectual pursuits in the past few decades, called into question the integrity of evolutionism and the amount of backlash is proportionate to it. The anti-creationist segment of science is large and on the defense. To relinquish any amount of turf is absolutely non-negotiable because that would crumble the impenetrable wall that evolutionism has built around itself. This wall was not built with evidence but with a philosophical naturalistic paradigm switch in enlightenment thought fostered primarily from implicit anti-Semitic and overt anti-Biblical prejudice. Evolutionism was the `natural' effect of that cause. It has been defended ever since through political, economic and ideological motives led by atheistic propagandists with similar views. This book is a continuation of that religious push.
There is no way to structure a complete argument against a whole book as concisely as needed here but I will make a few points. Mrs. Scott's defense of science as evolution and refusal to differentiate historical origins with operational science or contrast interspecies variation (micro evolution) from transmutation of species (macro evolution) is all managed with subtle forms of labeling and redefinition. The amount of inferences, "could have beens", "must have beens" and the like are enormous. She defends science as being ever changing, ever progressing and that being the reason why science (read evolution) is misunderstood. By making the definitions broad enough in places and narrow enough in others (like her analysis of creation and the Bible) makes sophisticated rhetoric capable of convincing many. Karl Marx was able to capitalize (no pun intended) on the distractions of the masses long enough to promote his theory as well.
Her appeals to the majority and consensus of selected peer groups as her authorities are innumerable. Yet minority groups are denied fairness in representation in the science classroom as a "misapplication of an otherwise worthy cultural value". (pgs xxiv, and 212) On pg. 199 her acceptance of majority rule changes however, in this case a majority of Americans by scientific polls who favor teaching both creation and evolutionism is condemned. "No group no matter how large or small, may use the organs of government, of which the public schools are the most conspicuous and influential, to foist it's religious beliefs on others." In the last few chapters she is content on using individual court judges to decide truth. Using both majority consensus and minority self righteousness lacks the consistency to really take her emotion based arguments seriously. Chastising the creationists for negative evidence of evolutionism rather than positive aspects of Creation is also hypocritical. A significant portion of the evolutionists argument are supposed problems with the Bible which are often confused and compounded by compromising and apostate Christians.
She never admits that evolutionism is a religion but she does come close. Speaking about this on pg. 260 she says, "it is more a cultural perspective than a position advocated." Her book redefines most all evolutionary concepts so as to better interpret it from the lack of hard evidence. By broadening the definitions and adding sophisticated sounding terms like synapomorphies (shared features) she makes the case that similarity is a sign of common ancestry. The lack of transitional fossils has turned from a search into a proposal of transitional (shared) features. Every single example of evidence her and the other evolutionist advocates produce could also be qualified for a common design by an omnipotent Creator.
There are a few small matters like the ambiguous defense of methodological naturalism instead of philosophical naturalism. I give her four stars because she produced a somewhat informative work in layman's terms, as opposed to many of her religion who use sophisticated language and complicated explanations common to a specialized peer group. This tactic tends to intimidate and academically bully the average reader who is busy in their own noble pursuits, like living life and loving each other. In previous works she has commented that most people have "an abysmal understanding of science". This is not the fault of "most people" as it is the scientists that are responsible to help the public understand their research and biases involved in their interpretation. How else can our society benefit collectively and positively?
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Review Summary: A good Evolution primer |
Date: 2007-01-05 |
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Details: I've met and talked with Eugenie a couple of times. Her book is a good reflection of her. She is smart and very well versed about the nature of science, Evolution, Creationism, Intelligent Design, and Religion in general. This book gives a fair representation of each and explains why Creationism and Intelligent Design are not science and why Evolution is. It also clearly shows how Intelligent Design and Creationism are not really supported by the tennants of Christianity. I really enjoy going to her lectures because she answers questions clearly and logically. This will do as an easy way to gain a perspective on the "controversy." You don't have to have a degree in science to understand it. You won't have to go back to a previous chapter to figure out what she's talking about. When I talk to people about Michael Behe's book, Darwin's Black Box, they tell me they agree with it but it was way too technical to understand. Eugenie tells you what you missed in his technical descriptions. I think this will open the eye's of some who think they believe in Intelligent Design as they don't realize how ID enthusiasts are compromising Christian beliefs. |
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