Rant on Dembski 28 Jul 2009 My good friend Ian Musgrave has just put up a wonderful rant on Dumbski’s latest crap, and it’s also up at Panda’s Thumb. Go read it. Nothing unexpected, Dembski’s usual rhetorical tricks and bad research, but it’s a fun read. One guy you don’t want to get started ranting against you is Ian. Creationism and Intelligent Design
Censorship It’s not censorship it’s, ahh… 4 Apr 20094 Oct 2017 Oklahoma lawmakers are singling out the visit by Richard Dawkins to talk about evolution on campus at OU, but they’re not censoring it, right? Just making academics fear for their funding, and perhaps jobs, but seeking all documentation about the visit. Just this visit, mind. Piers Hale, a historian of… Read More
Biology The Knight’s Song, or What is a [scientific] theory? 7 Apr 20127 Apr 2012 “Or else it doesn’t, you know. The name of the song is called ‘Haddocks’ Eyes.’” “Oh, that’s the name of the song, is it?” Alice said, trying to feel interested. “No, you don’t understand,” the Knight said, looking a little vexed. “That’s what the name is called. The name really is ‘The… Read More
Book Grayling on Fuller 9 Sep 2008 I am presently reading Fuller’s Dissent over Descent, but here’s A. C. Grayling’s review in advance of mine. The money quote: The demerits of ID theory itself – so woeful as to be funny: in this world of ours, with so much failed experiment of life, so much repetition and… Read More
Dumbski is deeply scary, this sort of stuff never fails to amaze me, I have difficulty grasping what exactly motivates it. Ian certainly takes the sting out of it not sure I agree with the envy part as such a strong motivator, fear and hatred certainly. Ive not read the book on every-ones lips just now, I don’t think the problem is how scientists communicate science but how a minority of very vocal scientists and philosophers of science talk about culture that is a problem. It’s a problem that Dumbski has picked up on and will manipulate to the full. I think thats something to be concerned about. But this line has made my day “Scientists, fear us, we will take your children and feed them the best available knowledge.” Very nice!
Should we call this dance of politicians ignoring the warnings of science until it is too late “The Musgrave Ritual”?
Off topic. I just used the quote mine on George Wald to good effect. Thanks for that Mr Catshark, nice resource. I was an education officer for Friends of the Earth in the 80’s, public attitude was dire, apart from school kids who always seemed to take an intrest. It’s changed somewhat but not enough.