Bridging Cultures Institute 2002

Evolution from a Bridging Perspective: An Interdisciplinary Problem


Science as story-telling and re-telling


Taking seriously science as story-telling I. Which of the following two stories do you prefer?
  1. The earth is flat
  2. The earth is round

Refs: Answer the question and explain the reasons for your preference in the institute forum area. (See responses)


Because of ...


Taking seriously science as story-telling II. Which of the following two stories do you prefer?

  1. The sun goes around the earth
  2. The earth goes around the sun

Refs: Answer the question and explain the reasons for your preference in the institute forum area. (See responses).


Because of ...


Taking seriously science as story-telling III. Which of the following stories do you prefer?

  1. Existing life forms (including humans) are as they are because of a previous and ongoing process of evolution consisting of random change and natural selection (differential reproductive success).
  2. Existing life forms (including humans) are as they are because of repeated creative acts of a supernatural being with a plan and intent?
  3. Existing life forms (including humans) are as they are because of an initial creative act with a supernatural being with a plan and intent?
  4. Other?
Answer the question and explain the reasons for your preference in the institute forum area. (See responses).


Because of ...


Some relevant observations (personally verified or verifiable):

  1. "Clumpiness of life"
  2. Similarities in constituents, development, genomes among existing organisms
  3. Fossil record
  4. Observed evolutionary change, experimental and natural
  5. Potential of randomness and simple rules to generate "complexity"
  6. Current failure to generate "life" from molecules in laboratory
  7. Current failure to generate cells from molecules in laboratory


A Social/Political Issue: Which of the following would you prefer?

  1. Teach evolution as the "story" of origins in science classrooms?
  2. Teach evolution as one among several equally good "stories" of "origins" in science classrooms?
  3. Teach evolution in science classrooms and other stories in other classes?
  4. Other?
Refs:

Answer the question and explain the reasons for your choice in the institute forum area. (See responses)




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