From the Guardian:
Child psychology studies have identified a natural human bias toward the theory of intelligent design, and pose a solution: teach evolution earlier
While psychologist Nathalia Gjersoe doesn’t come right out and say it, by “teach evolution,” she means teach what the U.S. Darwin-in-the-schools lobby would want:
Developmental psychologists have identified two cognitive biases in very young children that help to explain the popularity of intelligent design. The first is a belief that species are defined by an internal quality that cannot be changed (psychological essentialism). The second is that all things are designed for a purpose (promiscuous teleology). These biases interact with cultural beliefs such as religion but are just as prevalent in children raised in secular societies. Importantly, these beliefs become increasingly entrenched, making formal scientific instruction more and more difficult as children get older.More.
First, “species essentialism”? That’s just the kid’s way of classifying the world for preliminary purposes, and any competent psychologist should realize that. As Cats puts it, “A cat is not a dog.” Good place to begin.
And who are Gjersoe’s backers to be throwing stones? We have crabbed here at UD for years about the cavalcade of nonsense around speciation. It’s unclear what a species even is, never mind how it happens.
The idea’s popularity stems from the title of Darwin’s holy text, On the Origin of Species. “On the Origin of Whatever Is Going On Just Now” doesn’t sound quite so sciencey and might not get past even a typical science writer.
They prefer mystification themes like “Are dogs really wolves or are they a separate species”?
Who cares, guys? It’s all in your heads now. The concept needs to be totally revamped.
Of course, we are told by Darwin’s followers that we’re wrong to be concerned because defining species been a problem for three centuries.
Right. And if you can’t do anything about it, guys, maybe it’s time to let some other people try. Maybe the concept is not retrievable. Force feeding whatever the followers want to kiddies is not much of a solution.
Second, “evolution”does not mean that nothing is designed for a purpose. That is metaphysical naturalism, whose creation story is Darwinism. Teaching that amounts to using publicly funded schools to teach religion. Made-up child psychology that promotes it should be seen for what it is.
Actual evolution is about the mechanisms by which change happens. See, for example, Talk to the fossils: Let’s see what they say back
But that’s not popular because actual evidence has never really supported Darwin’s large claims (see Darwin’s finches, for example).
The people Gjersoe’s psychs really need to reach right now are probably the Royal Society. If not howled down by trolls, the Society is making a serious effort at rethinking evolution to take reality into account.
They need therapy.
See also: “Speciation” means what exactly? No one can define it but it is the basis of Darwinian evolution.
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