Disappointed in Maryland

[Magic Man]

In reading The Baltimore Sun today, I came across a poll that read:

What Maryland Thinks

Two hundred years after his birth, Charles Darwin's theory of evolution is still questioned by some. Should alternatives to evolutionary biology be taught in public schools?

Yes - 35%
No - 60%
Not sure - 5%

523 votes

It saddens me a little that that large a percentage of people don't understand evolution of science. It also saddens me just a little that that question would even still be asked. That's it. You're welcome to comment, if you'd like.

 

[painted wolf]

wanna really hurt... check out the Gallup poll here:
On Darwin’s Birthday, Only 4 in 10 Believe in Evolution

What isn't surprise is that acceptance of evolution goes up as education goes up.

No wonder the anti-science crowd is so anti-education.

wa:do

 

[challupa]

wanna really hurt... check out the Gallup poll here:
On Darwin’s Birthday, Only 4 in 10 Believe in Evolution

What isn't surprise is that acceptance of evolution goes up as education goes up.

No wonder the anti-science crowd is so anti-education.

wa:do

Yes the "home schooling" crowd! It really is sad that something so amazing can't be seen for what it is.

 

[fantome profane]

I think the problem is in the way the question is phrased (as is often the problem with polls of this type). The question implies that there are scientific alternatives evolutionary biology. If there were any scientific alternatives I would not be opposed to them being taught in public school science classes. But the fact is that there are no scientific alternatives so the question is misleading and pointless.

But I wouldn’t be too saddened by this poll. Given the way the question is phrased I think the fact that 60% said “no” is a pretty good endorsement of evolution.

Even the poll Painted Wolf linked to shows that a higher percentage (39%) believe in evolution then don’t (25%).

I guess I am just in a "glass half full" mood today.

 

[Magic Man]

That is true, fp. I guess that was part of my sadness about this question even being asked in the first place.

 

[Watchmen]

There's nothing wrong with teaching scientific alternatives. Darwin was just the beginning and there are many that are expanding on his work. In the latest issue of National Geographic, I believe there's even a section that explains where Darwin was actually wrong in some areas.

And, for the record, intelligent design is NOT science.

 

[Magic Man]

There's nothing wrong with teaching scientific alternatives.

That's true. There just aren't any scientific alternatives. That's the whole point. Any and all evidence we have supports evolution, otherwise the theory would be thrown out.

Darwin was just the beginning and there are many that are expanding on his work. In the latest issue of National Geographic, I believe there's even a section that explains where Darwin was actually wrong in some areas.

Also true. The theory has evolved D) over the years. But it's always been the same basic idea.

And, for the record, intelligent design is NOT science.

Hear! Hear!

 

[Watchmen]

That's true. There just aren't any scientific alternatives. That's the whole point. Any and all evidence we have supports evolution, otherwise the theory would be thrown out.



Also true. The theory has evolved D) over the years. But it's always been the same basic idea.



Hear! Hear!

I think there are scientific alternatives to Darwin's theory. Certainly he's provided a basis and the theory has evolved, but in those places where the evolution has shown Darwin wrong about a certain point, I believe it can honestly be said that there is an alternative to Darwin's evolution.

Semantics...I know.

 

[painted wolf]

Yes, it's called "the modern synthesis"... it's evolution as taught today.

Naturally Darwin was wrong about some things, he lived in a time before the great fossil finds of the 1900's and before Mendelian Genetics or even continental drift.

What is impressive is how much he got right without the benefit of those discoveries.

wa:do

 

[Magic Man]

I think there are scientific alternatives to Darwin's theory. Certainly he's provided a basis and the theory has evolved, but in those places where the evolution has shown Darwin wrong about a certain point, I believe it can honestly be said that there is an alternative to Darwin's evolution.

Semantics...I know.

Well, that's the thing, as pw pointed out. That alternative is what's taught today, if you want to consider it an alternative. The question in the poll asked about alternatives to evolutionary biology, and to that there are no current alternatives.

 

[Luminous]

Open Letter To Kansas School Board - Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster

"I think we can all look forward to the time when these three theories are given equal time in our science classrooms across the country, and eventually the world; One third time for Intelligent Design, one third time for Flying Spaghetti Monsterism, and one third time for logical conjecture based on overwhelming observable evidence."

~ Bobby Henderson (pasta be upon him)

 

[Valjean]

An incorrect observation or speculation does not an alternative theory make.

I'm unaware of any alternative theories.

 

[painted wolf]

Certainly not a scientific theory.

wa:do

 

[nash'tik]

by "evolution", it probably doesn't mean the exact theory of darwins evolution, it is the modern theory of evolution. so therefore, there are no real alternatives to the theory of evolution.

 

[ThereIsNoSpoon]

wanna really hurt... check out the Gallup poll here:
On Darwin’s Birthday, Only 4 in 10 Believe in Evolution

Strange american problem i would say ... In germany the numbers are somewhat different. Of course ... no country is without "strange people".

 

[Jose Fly]

Watchman,

Please realize that the issue of evolution and assertions of "alternatives" have a lot of baggage. It would help greatly if you specified exactly what you are talking about. If you speak in vague terms, people tend to fill in the unknowns with assumptions based on the baggage I mentioned above.