--- Glenn Bradford <gmbbradford@netscape.net> wrote:
> Platt,
>
> PLATT:
> In making my statements about the fundamental faith
> in chance
> required by the Darwinian view of evolution I
> assumed, perhaps
> generously, that anyone with a high school education
> was aware of the
> "contingency of a patterned environment," i.e.,
> evolution doesn't take
> place in a vacuum. The argument between creationists
> and Darwinists
> is usually framed as intelligent design vs. random
> events."
>
> It seems to me that most people coming out of high
> school are only
> dimly aware of this, considering that evolution is
> either not taught
> or watered down in American public schools. That you
> think the
> debate is framed as intelligent design vs. random
> events and not
> intelligent design vs. natural selection only
> underscores this problem.
>
> PLATT:
> "As mentioned before, I wouldn't expect you in
> defending Darwinism to
> present all the reasons why the intelligent design
> theory has adherents among
> biologists. (For example, two recent books,
> "Evolution: A Theory in
> Crises" and "Darwin's Black Box."). My point in
> making my "deliberate
> misrepresentations" is to counter the prevailing
> false belief that faith
> plays no part in science, similar to Pirsig's
> counter to the widespread
> belief that values are absent from the scientific
> worldview. I fail to
> understand why you find this to be a problem unless
> I have failed to
> make my motive clear which is not to downgrade
> science, but to bring
> attention to its principle, praised by Pirsig, that
> its presuppositions are
> not inviolate. Is it your view that faith in
> unprovable premises doesn't
> intrude on the scientific outlook?"
>
> No, it isn't my view.
>
> PLATT:
> "It's probably a cheap shot, but I can't resist
> pointing out that your
> analogy of Darwinian evolution to a casino is
> somewhat unfortunate in
> that a casino is intelligently designed from the
> ground up. But, I guess
> I'm just being annoying again. (-:"
>
> As long as you understood the point of the analogy,
> I'm satisfied.
> Glenn
>
Hiya Glenn, Platt
Can I help? My education has it that evolution is
dice-like mutation + fit-for-the-environment
selection. What's the main issue here?
André
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