Monday, August 8, 2011

My Response: Evolution Debate in Education

I agree with my colleague, Chelsea, in her article, "Evolution Debate in Education" that science textbooks should present both the theory of evolution and the theory of intelligent design in order to provide academic equality. Promoting the idea that unbiased viewpoints should be taught in school in all areas except science creates a double standard. Science should be included too. Chelsea is right that this is not a matter of spiritual beliefs -- after-all, renown British atheist Antony Flew studied both theories and became a proponent of intelligent design (after-which, he became a theist). Instead, it's a matter of equality.

Therefore, scientific proof is normally made through the scientific method which includes hypothesis, observation, and repeated experimentation. But scientists can't prove the world came about through evolution because we obviously can't experiment and create the world again. Evolution should be treated as a theory as it cannot be proven and is still contested in scientific circles.

Knowledge gives people the power to make educated choices about truth. People shouldn't believe something is true simply because they were blindly ignorant of any alternatives. Truth should be able to stand up on its own merit. Educating students about both theories allows them to understand the pros and cons of both sides rather than just the pros of one side. This provides a much more balanced, unbiased education.

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