Now on ScienceBlogs: Recent Science-Related Events in the Triangle
An irregular exploration of the struggle between the power of rational discourse and the scientific method on one hand, and the forces of superstition and dogma on the other. Mostly regarding climate change, though.
James Hrynyshyn is a freelance science journalist based in western North Carolina, where he tries to put degrees in marine biology and journalism to good use.
The Demon-Haunted World:
Science as a Candle
in the Dark,
by Carl Sagan
(A
review)
The Doubter's Companion:
by John Ralston Saul (Excerpts)
Skeptic Magazine: www.skeptic.com
Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal: www.csicop.org
A poem by Yehuda Amichai:
The
Place
Where We Are Right
The Meaning of the
Island of Doubt
By doubting we come to inquiry; and through inquiry we perceive truth.
--- Peter Abelard
Undisguised clarity is easily mistaken for arrogance.
-- Richard Dawkins
As for evolution, it happened. Deal with it.
-- Michael Shermer.
"There is no need to sally forth, for it remains true that those things
which make us human are, curiously enough, always close at hand.
Resolve, then, that on this very ground, with small flags waving, and
tiny blasts of tinny trumpets, we have met the enemy, and not only may
he be ours, he may be us."
--Walt Kelly
Category: evolution
While Darwin's contribution to knowledge was extraordinary, it is important to remember that he was just a human being. We are all capable of greatness, and that's a wonderful message to impart to the next generation.
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 7:35 AM • 1 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: evolution
"Canada's science minister, the man at the centre of the controversy over federal funding cuts to researchers, won't say if he believes in evolution."
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 2:53 PM • 11 Comments • 1 TrackBacks
Category: evolution
A couple of weeks ago, New Scientist published an insightful but hardly controversial little essay on the challenges a science book editor faces when she has to deal with creationist literature. Amanda Geftner's piece, "How to spot a hidden religious...
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 11:45 AM • 6 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: evolution
There's enough misrepresentation of Darwin's evolving attitude toward religion and faith as he pondered the implications of evolution by natural selection already.
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 4:15 PM • 13 Comments • 1 TrackBacks
Category: biology
I must confess to being pleasantly surprised by the amount of attention Charles Darwin is drawing on this, the 200th anniversary of his birth. And although anything I contribute is almost certain to be redundant, I feel obliged to chime...
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 7:58 AM • 1 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: evolution
Not to diminish Charles Darwin's brillance in the slightest, but there's a nice little essay in the New York Times by Nicholas Wade that helps explain why the guy managed to get so much so right so long ago. The...
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 3:33 PM • 1 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: evolution
New Scientist's recent cover that heralded the stunning news (not) that "Darwin was wrong" has generated an enormous amount of antipathy in these parts. Bora's keeping notes, and the feature article's author, Graham Lawton, surely doesn't deserve the vitriol. (Although...
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 2:59 PM • 26 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: evolution
One in eight. Is that low enough? Not according to the authors of a new paper in PLoS Biology who conducted the "first nationally representative survey of teachers concerning the teaching of evolution." They did come up with some optimistic...
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 6:41 AM • 3 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: evolution
"A no more shameless, stupid and loathsome piece of propaganda has ever skulked its way into the theater."
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 12:38 PM • 7 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: evolution
All hell is breaking loose as our little corner of blogosphere tries to come to grips with the wisdom of telling it like it is.
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 10:03 AM • 39 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
