Category: science education

Noted philosopher William Lane Craig responds to the American Humanist Association “Kids without God” web site

As I have just noted, the AHA has put up a blog promoting its brand of evolutionary materialist naturalism to children: . . . the AHA has a web site that promotes its brand of naturalism — in effect, atheism rooted in evolutionary materialism, but with the attempt to promote human values and being “good… more

The island that (maps notwithstanding) simply wasn’t there . . .

This morning, I ran across a news item on the “undiscovery” of Sandy Island off Australia: Most explorers dream of discovering uncharted territory, but a team of Australian scientists have done the exact opposite. They have found an island that doesn’t exist. (vid at the linked) This led me to think about the institution of… more

A reply to Dr Dawkins’ September Playboy interview

  In an interview with Playboy, September just past, Dr Dawkins made some dismissive remarks  on the historicity of Jesus, in the context of having made similarly dismissive talking points about Intelligent Design.  As UD News noted: PLAYBOY: What is your view of Jesus? DAWKINS: The evidence he existed is surprisingly shaky. The earliest books… more

The TSZ and Jerad Thread, III — 900+ and almost 800 comments in, needing a new thread . . .

Okay, the thread of discussion needs to pick up from here on. To motivate discussion, let me clip here comment no 795 in the continuation thread, which I have marked up: _________ >> 795Jerad October 23, 2012 at 1:18 am KF (783): At this point, with all due respect, you look like someone making stuff… more

UD PRO-DARWINISM ESSAY CHALLENGE

On Sept 23rd, I put up an essay challenge as captioned, primarily to objecting commenter Jerad. As at October 2nd, he has definitively said: no. Joe informs us that Zachriel has tried to brush it aside: Try Darwin’s Origin of Species (1859). It’s a bit dated and longer than 6,000 words, (the 6th edition is… more

On “seeing” — credibly knowing about — the invisible in science

Yesterday, following up from recent comment exchanges, I posted about the electron as an example of how we routinely deal with the invisible in science, and on how inductive — believe it or not that is now a fighting word — inference on sign is vital to science. This morning, I followed up on a… more

Sometimes, a picture — here, a 465B Cathode Ray Oscilloscope, showing a trace on its screen — is worth a thousand words (on the significance of inference to best current explanation in science)

The Tektronix 465 Cathode Ray Oscilloscope is a classic of analogue oscilloscope design, one based on deflecting electron beams electrostatically to observe and measure electrical oscillations: But, wait a minute, are we ACTUALLY seeing electron beams? Nope, we are seeing a TRACE on the screen, where light is emitted by the phosphor as it is… more

For record: Questions on the logical and scientific status of design theory for objectors (and supporters)

Over the past several days, I have been highlighting poster children of illogic and want of civility that are too often found among critics to design theory – even, among those claiming to be standing on civility and to be posing unanswerable questions, challenges or counter-claims to design theory. I have also noticed the strong… more

He said it: Toronto of TSZ etc on abductive inference to best explanation in science

The illustration to the right is a Hertzprung-Russell diagram of two star clusters, and is used to infer ages for these clusters. How is that done? Stellar clusters are gravitationally bound and so the stars seem to be of the same general age and composition, also they are at about the same distance from us.… more

He said it: “There is more evidence for evolution than … the idea that things are made up of atoms”

The only question that remains is, is he stupid or does he think everyone else is? more

Okay, you are poor, but you want to take Prof Woodward’s Darwin vs. design course? Here’s good news!

Just state why you think you should learn about reasons for thinking that there is a design of life. more

Darwin’s followers SHOULD take Prof Woodward’s Darwinism and Intelligent Design course

Now that non-Darwinist microbiologist James Shapiro is writing regularly at the Huffington Post, Darwin’s followers will have to get used to hard questions, and not all from ID theorists. more

Trinity College of Florida offers online “Darwinism & Intelligent Design” course

” … examining three dimensions (science, philosophy and history) of the contemporary debate between the two theories.” more

Ken Miller’s science problem

Apparently, this is all in aid of preventing Jindal becoming the vice-presidential nominee. Which means he may well be a good choice. more

Breaking: Texas has rejected federal science standards

“Add education to the growing list of issues where Texas differs from the federal government.” more

What should a 21st century biology textbook be like?

“I expect that just reading this article will have raised the hackles of many readers whose favourite topics I would cut.” more

For record: A comment on the issues raised by Dr Fuller (HT: Gregory and Nullasalus), and onward concerns in the wider context of debates over design theory

I have just now commented in the recent thread on Dr Fuller’s thought, and think it useful to headline for record (especially given some continued abusive misbehaviour at Anti- Evo and linked sites that has come to my attention in recent days): ____________ >> Let me clip a few thought-sparker cites from Dr Steve Fuller:… more

Darwin’s in the schools, and Satan’s back in Kansas

Warning: This story contains high doses of Westboro Baptist Church more

No True Scotsman!! Loch Ness monster to feature in Louisiana private school science textbook?

Hot potato: Schools teaching that the Nessie hoax is a fact (and relevant to evolution) may get public funds (vouchers). more

US Darwinists (US ranked 14th) wail over South Korea (ranked 1st), supposedly “not able to compete”

… due to dumping some Darwin lobby-enforced errors from textbooks. more

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