1 / 44

George Branch Zoology Department University of Cape Town

The context of controversies 2. Dispelling myths about evolution 3. How to teach evolution?. Evolution & religion: clashes and co-existence. George Branch Zoology Department University of Cape Town. Addo in the South African Cretaceous: ‘Rough’ artwork by Tobie Beale.

dior
Télécharger la présentation

George Branch Zoology Department University of Cape Town

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. The context of controversies 2. Dispelling myths about evolution 3. How to teach evolution? Evolution & religion: clashes and co-existence George Branch Zoology Department University of Cape Town Addo in the South African Cretaceous: ‘Rough’ artwork by Tobie Beale

  2. The sequence of learning or teaching evolution: Understand the factual basics Test the ideas against the evidence 3. Appreciate how science is adding new ideas Grasp the modern-day relevance of evolution 5. Explore the controversies & test alternative views against evidence

  3. Galileo 1564-1642 It would be “a terrible detriment for the souls if people found themselves convinced by proof of something that is made then a sin to believe”

  4. Do you accept the fact of gravity?

  5. Gravity • “Facts don’t disappear while scientists debate theories .... Einstein’s theory of gravitation replaced Newton’s, but apples don’t suspend themselves in mid-air pending the outcome” (Gould 1987) • Similarly the fact of evolution remains, regardless of whether scientists agree on all the mechanisms of evolution.

  6. Does learning about evolution erode religious beliefs? A story of 4622 students’ views Before lectures on evolution Knowledge about evolution Can you believe in a Creator and Evolution? Evolution could be the Creator’s method of creation. Evolution has been proved beyond reasonable doubt. God created the earth in literally 6 days. After lectures % 0 20 40 60 80

  7. Does learning about evolution erode religious beliefs? A story of 4622 students’ views Before lectures on evolution Knowledge about evolution Can you believe in a Creator and Evolution? Evolution could be the Creator’s method of creation. Evolution has been proved beyond reasonable doubt. God created the earth in literally 6 days. After lectures % 0 20 40 60 80

  8. Creationism Flat earth Earth centre of universe Young earth Acceptance of an ‘old’ earth earth Evolution within ‘kinds’ Humanity is unique Intelligent design Theistic evolution Scientism Evolutionism Adapted from Massimo Pigliucci 2002: Denying Evolution

  9. Summary of Charles Darwin’s theory Evidence More individuals are born than survive to reproduce. Variety exists among individuals of a species. ‘Fitter’ individuals are more likely to reproduce = “Survival of the fittest”: Natural selection eliminates less well-adapted individuals. If characteristics are inherited, species slowly evolve = adaptation, or ‘microevolution’ eventually even giving rise to new species = speciation, or ‘macroevolution’. Then Now

  10. It can’t explain the origin of life It doesn’t try to. Science does have plausible hypotheses but no firm answers. Mysteries are a challenge not a threat to scientists. Dispelling some myths about evolution

  11. My personal ‘barometer’ of scientific knowledge Big Bang Origin of the universe Inflation Origin of life Colony formation Darwinian Evolution Supra-scientific Origin of humanity Chemical evolution Endo-symbiosis Origin of light elements Origin of heavy elements Origin of multicellular life Origin of stars & planets Origin of Eukaryote cells Fusion Gravity God Mutation & natural selection Natural and cultural selection Fission & fusion; pressure + temp

  12. Dispelling some more myths about evolution… It can’t explain the origin of life It’s “just a theory” a)Misinterprets the meaning - a body of evidence uniting different parts of a jigsaw, which explains the observations so well that it is accepted by scientists as fact.e.g. Atomic Theory; Theory of Gravity b) Distinguish the process from the mechanisms.

  13. …one more… It can’t explain the origin of life 2. It’s “just a theory” 3. It contradicts the 2nd law of thermodynamics (everything tends to disorder or chaos) It doesn’t. The law is being misquoted and applied to an ‘open’ system

  14. …yet another… It can’t explain the origin of life It’s “just a theory” 3. It contradicts the 2nd law of thermodynamics (everything tends to disorder or chaos) 4. It’s all based on hoaxes, and scientists keep changing their minds, so we don’t trust them.

  15. …yet another… It can’t explain the origin of life It’s “just a theory” 3. It contradicts the 2nd law of thermodynamics (everything tends to disorder or chaos) 4. It’s all based on hoaxes, and scientists keep changing their minds, so we don’t trust them. 5.Micro-evolution is OK, macro-evolution isn’t. Can new species form by evolution? Direct observation vs. historical inference.

  16. Placenta is a syncytium of fused cells Probably caused by three retroviral insertions in the mammalian genome

  17. …and another… It can’t explain the origin of life It’s “just a theory” 3. It contradicts the 2nd law of thermodynamics (everything tends to disorder or chaos) 4. It’s all based on hoaxes, so we don’t trust scientists. 5. Micro-evolution is OK, macro-evolution isn’t. 6. “Irreducible complexity” contradicts evolution.

  18. So, what is “irreducible complexity’? … the idea that some biochemical processes and body structures cannot function in a less complex state IF THIS IS TRUE: They could not have evolved from simpler beginnings. IF THAT IS TRUE: ‘Intelligent design’ is necessary for their origin

  19. Intelligent design theorists, would, for example, ask: “What use is half an eye?” “To suppose that the eye, with all its inimitable contrivances …could have been formed by natural selection, seems, I freely confess, absurd in the highest degree” (Darwin 1859)

  20. Or what about the remarkable bacterial flagellum… with 27 complex proteins essential for its functioning (Michael Behe 1996: Darwin’s Black Box).

  21. Let Charles Darwin have the last words: “If it could be demonstrated that any complex organ existed which could not possibly have been formed by numerous, successive, slight modifications, my theory would absolutely break down…. ….but I can find no such case.”

  22. …and a last (non-scientific) concern: It can’t explain the origin of life It’s “just a theory” 3. It contradicts the 2nd law of thermodynamics (everything tends to disorder or chaos) 4. It’s all based on hoaxes, so we don’t trust scientists. 5. Micro-evolution is OK, macroevolution isn’t. 6. “Irreducible complexity” contradicts evolution. 7.It leads to all manner of social abuses

  23. “Blame all the maladies of humanity on evolution…” Massimo Pigliucci (2002) Denying Evolution 

  24.  DOGMA But it would be equally meaningless) to say: “Blame all the maladies of humanity on RELIGION…” SPREAD OF DISEASE RELIGIOUS SEXISM HOMOPHOBIA PAEDO- PHILIA WASTED TIME & MONEY CREATIONISM BRAIN- WASHING APARTHEID GOD’S WILL FUNDAMENTALISM LORD’S ARMY RELIGIOUS SCIENCE RELIGION

  25. Contrast this with modern evolutionary evidence: All humanity stemmed - quite recently - from Africa There is less genetic diversity among humans than almost any other species examined. Darwinian evolution has been abused in the guise of ‘Social Darwinism’ Supremacy: We must “accept and welcome … great inequality” …because capitalism “ensures the survival of the fittest” (Andrew Carnegie 1890) Racialism: “…draw a sharp boundary … between the most highly developed civilised people … and the crudest primitive people … and unite the latter with the animals… (Ernst Haeckel 1868)

  26. Science can only ascertain what is, but not what should be, and outside of its domain value judgements of all kinds remain necessary (Albert Einstein (1879-1955) In reality:

  27. Where do people stand in relation to evolution and religion? NO GOD DEISTIC GOD NATURALISTIC GOD PERSONAL GOD CONFLICTING WORLDS SCIENCE CAN PROVE RELIGION SEPARATE BUT COMPLIMENTARY WORLDS

  28. Adapted from M. Pigliucci 2002 Denying Evolution Scientism NO GOD Atheism DEISTIC GOD Non-overlapping Magisteria Anthropic principle Scientific Rationalism NATURALISTIC GOD Theistic Science ‘Scientific’ creationism Scientific theism Faith & Reason PERSONAL GOD Classical creationism CONFLICTING WORLDS SCIENCE CAN PROVE RELIGION SEPARATE BUT COMPLIMENTARY WORLDS

  29. Guiding principles of teaching evolution: • Respect for the views of others • Insistence on testability for all views • Recognise ignorance - both personally and in science • 4. Distinguish the different goals of science and religion • Rejoice in the strengths and relevance of science • without rejecting religion.

  30. Billy Graham 1997: “I think that we have made a mistake by thinking the Bible is a scientific book. The Bible is not a book of science. The Bible is a book of Redemption”.

  31. We, the undersigned Imams, assert that … the timeless truths of the Qur'an may comfortably coexist with the discoveries of modern science. As Imams we urge… commitment to the teaching of…evolution. We ask that science remain science and that religion remain religion…different, but complementary, forms of truth.

  32. Central conclusions Evolution is a well established fact, well supported by multiple lines of evidence. 2. Science doesn’t answer all questions, especially moral, spiritual, philosophical and ethical “why?” questions. 3. Science and religion cannot be used to test the other; their goals, methods and philosophies are far apart. 4. But they can (and in my view should be) complementary not antagonistic. 5. Free will is a characteristic of all human beings, and we are in control of our destinies; where we seek guidance is up to us.

  33. “Is it relevant in the modern world?” Think of …..one positive application of evolution …..one undesirable application …..one philosophical implication

  34. Here are some examples - coded green for things that are acceptable; and red for those that are not Resolving legal issues - DNA fingerprinting. Tracing evolutionary origins of diseases. Genetic modification of organisms - e.g., generation of insulin by bacteria. Selective breeding of plants and animals. Warfare - biological pathogens and mutation-inducing chemicals Resistance of insect pests to insecticides Eugenics - countering genetic deficiencies Justifying antisocial behaviour because of genetic predisposition Genocide or racialism justified by supposed superiority

  35. Postscripts: “Why should we have to teach evolution…?” It’s basic to understanding all Biology It challenges people to really think for themselves It underpins so many aspects of our every-day lives

  36. “Is it relevant in the modern world?”

  37. To make bread, you need…

  38. Atmosphere Universe Solar planet Microbiologist Temperature Chef Yeast Water Sugar Tilt Cane Distance from sun Strong nuclear forces Dough Gravity Rotation Wheat Electromagnetism Water Oxygen

  39. How do we date the earth? • Decay of radioactive atoms • alteration of number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus to form a new element • at a fixed proportional rate • independent of chemical and physical conditions 100% 100% Uranium 50 Uranium: 50 lead 50% 25 Uranium: 75 lead 12.5 Uranium: 87.5 lead 25% 6.25 Uranium: 93.75 lead 12.5% 6.25% Time Half life of 4.5 billion years Carbon14 half life = 5730 years - verified by aging bristle-cone pines

  40. How do we know the ages of geological eras? • Decay of radioactive atoms • alteration of number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus to form a new element • at a fixed proportional rate • independent of chemical and physical conditions How to validate this? 1. Test physical effects 2. Calibrate against other radio-active elements. 3. Test living organisms 4. Use genetic mutation rates 5. Use other tests of age 100% 100% Uranium 50 Uranium: 50 lead 50% 25 Uranium: 75 lead 12.5 Uranium: 87.5 lead 25% 6.25 Uranium: 93.75 lead 12.5% 6.25% Time Half life of 4.5 billion years Carbon14 half life = 5730 years - verified by aging bristle-cone pines

  41. “There are many cases … where the age estimate has been checked by two or more methods, independently. It would seem improbable that the elements concerned would each have been altered in such a way as to continue to give equal ages … agreement … would seem to be strong evidence … that the indicated age is … valid” Whitcomb JC & HM Morris (1961) Genesis Flood

  42. The Anthropic Principle notes that many physical constants in the universe have to be “just right” for the universe to exist and for life to have appeared. Amongst them are: • 1. The gravitational constant: any larger and the universe collapses without any evolution; any smaller, and planets would never form. (Steven Hawkin, 1988, A Brief History of Time: “smaller by even one part in a hundred thousand million million, [and the universe] would have recollapsed before it reached its present size.” Strong nuclear forces: stronger, and all hydrogen would have disappeared; weaker, and no other elements would have formed. 3. Electromagnetism: any stronger and electrons would be bound so tightly to atoms that compounds would never form; any weaker, and atoms would disintegrate. For some, the chances of all these (and many other) constants being precisely what is necessary for the universe and life to exist is evidence of a controlling intelligence: God. For others, “our” universe may be just one of countless universes, which just “happens” To have the “right” mix of constants - a sort of Darwinian evolution of universes. No physical evidence exists for either view.

  43. “There is a grandeur of this view of life, with its several powers. having been breathed into a few forms or one; that … from so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and wonderful have been, and are being, evolved.” Closing words of Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species 1959.

More Related