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'''''Uncommon Dissent: Intellectuals Who Find Darwinism Unconvincing''''' is a [[2004]] anthology edited by [[intelligent design]] activist [[William Dembski]] in which fifteen intellectuals criticise what they call "[[Darwinism]]", characterized in the book's introduction by the central claim that "an unguided physical process can account for the emergence of all biological complexity and diversity".<ref>Dembski, ''Uncommon Dissent'', p. xx.''</ref> It is published by the publishing wing of the [[paleoconservative]] [[Intercollegiate Studies Institute]]. The foreword is by John Wilson, editor of the [[evangelical Christian]] magazine ''[[Christianity Today]]''. The title is a pun on the principle of biology known as [[common descent]].
'''''Uncommon Dissent: Intellectuals Who Find Darwinism Unconvincing''''' is a [[2004]] anthology edited by [[intelligent design]] activist [[William Dembski]] in which fifteen intellectuals criticise "[[Darwinism]]", which they use to refer to the theory of [[evolution]].<ref>"As I stated earlier, Johnson, Dembski, and their associates have assumed the task of destroying 'Darwinism,' 'evolutionary naturalism,' 'scientific materialism,' 'methodological naturalism,' 'philosophical naturalism,' and other 'isms' they use as synonyms for evolution." [http://www.designinference.com/documents/2005.05.ID_at_Baylor.htm Barbara Forrest’s Letter to Simon Blackburn] Barbara Forrest. March 2000. Quoted in [http://www.designinference.com/documents/2005.09.Expert_Rebuttal_Dembski.pdf Rebuttal to Reports by Opposing Expert Witnesses] William A. Dembski. May 14 2005</ref><ref>"In his latest Commentary essay on 'Darwinism' - as it is often called by those who do not know much evolutionary biology..." [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5001692848&er=deny Darwinism Versus Intelligent Design] Paul Gross. Commentary Magazine, Vol. 115, March 2003, No. 3</ref> The book's introduction characterizes Darwinism by the central claim that "an unguided physical process can account for the emergence of all biological complexity and diversity".<ref>Dembski, ''Uncommon Dissent'', p. xx.''</ref>

It is published by the publishing wing of the [[paleoconservative]] [[Intercollegiate Studies Institute]]. The foreword is by John Wilson, editor of the [[evangelical Christian]] magazine ''[[Christianity Today]]''. Described by the Discovery Institute as "a summary of the widespread attack upon Darwinism by ... leading intellectuals,"<ref>[http://www.discovery.org/scripts/viewDB/index.php?command=view&program=Book%20-%20CSC&id=3605 Uncommon Dissent, Intellectuals who find Darwinism Unconvincing] Center for Science and Culture, June 1 2004.</ref> the book rejects{{fact}} the broad acceptance of [[evolution]] within the [[scientific community]].<ref>National Association of Biology Teachers [http://www.nabt.org/sub/position_statements/evolution.asp Statement on Teaching Evolution]</ref><ref>[http://www.interacademies.net/Object.File/Master/6/150/Evolution%20statement.pdf IAP Statement on the Teaching of Evolution] Joint statement issued by the national science academies of 67 countries, including the [[United Kingdom|United Kingdom's]] [[Royal Society]] (PDF file)</ref><ref>From the [[American Association for the Advancement of Science]], the world's largest general scientific society: [http://www.aaas.org/news/releases/2006/pdf/0219boardstatement.pdf 2006 Statement on the Teaching of Evolution] (PDF file), [http://www.aaas.org/news/releases/2006/0219boardstatement.shtml AAAS Denounces Anti-Evolution Laws]</ref> In her expert witness report for the [[Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District]] trial [[Barbara Forrest]] cited [[Discovery Institute]] fellow [[Nancy R. Pearcey]]'s writings in Uncommon Dissent as evidence of the religious foundations of the institute's [[Wedge strategy]] and of intelligent design.<ref> [http://www2.ncseweb.org/kvd/experts/Forrest_supplemental_report.pdf Expert Witness Report] [[Barbara Forrest]], April 1, 2005, page 29.</ref>

The title is a pun on the principle of biology known as [[common descent]].


==Topics Addressed==
==Topics Addressed==
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Although at least three of the contributors work in biology-related fields, none is a professional biologist.
Although at least three of the contributors work in biology-related fields, none is a professional biologist.

=="Darwinism"==

Generally, "Darwinism" is a term for the underlying theory in those ideas of [[Charles Darwin]] concerning [[evolution]] and [[natural selection]], and can refer to evolution by natural selection, to evolution more broadly, or to other ideas not directly associated with the work of Darwin. Critics say Johnson, Dembski, and their associates use "Darwinism" to mean evolution,<ref>"As I stated earlier, Johnson, Dembski, and their associates have assumed the task of destroying 'Darwinism,' 'evolutionary naturalism,' 'scientific materialism,' 'methodological naturalism,' 'philosophical naturalism,' and other 'isms' they use as synonyms for evolution." [http://www.designinference.com/documents/2005.05.ID_at_Baylor.htm Barbara Forrest’s Letter to Simon Blackburn] Barbara Forrest. March 2000. Quoted in [http://www.designinference.com/documents/2005.09.Expert_Rebuttal_Dembski.pdf Rebuttal to Reports by Opposing Expert Witnesses] William A. Dembski. May 14 2005</ref><ref>"In his latest Commentary essay on 'Darwinism' - as it is often called by those who do not know much evolutionary biology..." [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5001692848&er=deny Darwinism Versus Intelligent Design] Paul Gross. Commentary Magazine, Vol. 115, March 2003, No. 3</ref> which has broad acceptance within the [[scientific community]].<ref>National Association of Biology Teachers [http://www.nabt.org/sub/position_statements/evolution.asp Statement on Teaching Evolution]</ref><ref>[http://www.interacademies.net/Object.File/Master/6/150/Evolution%20statement.pdf IAP Statement on the Teaching of Evolution] Joint statement issued by the national science academies of 67 countries, including the [[United Kingdom|United Kingdom's]] [[Royal Society]] (PDF file)</ref><ref>From the [[American Association for the Advancement of Science]], the world's largest general scientific society: [http://www.aaas.org/news/releases/2006/pdf/0219boardstatement.pdf 2006 Statement on the Teaching of Evolution] (PDF file), [http://www.aaas.org/news/releases/2006/0219boardstatement.shtml AAAS Denounces Anti-Evolution Laws]</ref>

Contributor James Barham writes that "it is incorrect to simply equate Darwinism with belief in evolution." He distinguishes empirical Darwinism ("the idea that the formation of new species is due to random changes in individual organisms that happen to be 'selected' by the environment") from metaphysical Darwinism (the claim that "the theory of natural selection has successfully reduced all [[teleological]] and [[normative]] phenomena to the interplay of chance and necessity, thus eliminating purpose and value from our picture of the world"). For Barham, the "real problem with the evolution debate" is not empirical Darwinism, but a sort of "theory creep" in which a "bold but circumscribed scientific claim" (empirical Darwinism) becomes conflated with "a much more sweeping philosophical claim" (metaphysical Darwinism).<ref>Barham, ''Uncommon Dissent'', pp. 177–8.</ref>

==Reception==

The [[Discovery Institute]]'s [[Center for Science and Culture]], of which Dembski is a fellow, described ''Uncommon Dissent'' as "a summary of the widespread attack upon Darwinism by some of today’s leading intellectuals."<ref>[http://www.discovery.org/scripts/viewDB/index.php?command=view&program=Book%20-%20CSC&id=3605 Uncommon Dissent, Intellectuals who find Darwinism Unconvincing] Center for Science and Culture, June 1 2004.</ref> In her expert witness report for the [[Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District]] trial [[Barbara Forrest]] cited CSC fellow [[Nancy R. Pearcey]]'s writings in ''Uncommon Dissent'' as evidence of the religious foundations of the institute's [[Wedge strategy]] and of intelligent design.<ref> [http://www2.ncseweb.org/kvd/experts/Forrest_supplemental_report.pdf Expert Witness Report] [[Barbara Forrest]], April 1, 2005, page 29.</ref>


== References ==
== References ==

Revision as of 13:52, 18 December 2006

Uncommon Dissent: Intellectuals Who Find Darwinism Unconvincing is a 2004 anthology edited by intelligent design activist William Dembski in which fifteen intellectuals criticise "Darwinism", which they use to refer to the theory of evolution.[1][2] The book's introduction characterizes Darwinism by the central claim that "an unguided physical process can account for the emergence of all biological complexity and diversity".[3]

It is published by the publishing wing of the paleoconservative Intercollegiate Studies Institute. The foreword is by John Wilson, editor of the evangelical Christian magazine Christianity Today. Described by the Discovery Institute as "a summary of the widespread attack upon Darwinism by ... leading intellectuals,"[4] the book rejects[citation needed] the broad acceptance of evolution within the scientific community.[5][6][7] In her expert witness report for the Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District trial Barbara Forrest cited Discovery Institute fellow Nancy R. Pearcey's writings in Uncommon Dissent as evidence of the religious foundations of the institute's Wedge strategy and of intelligent design.[8]

The title is a pun on the principle of biology known as common descent.

Topics Addressed

The book contains four sections: Part I: A Crisis of Confidence; Part II: Darwinism's Cultural Inroads; Part III: Leaving the Darwinian Fold; and Part IV: Auditing the Books. Part I, consisting of three essays, offers opinions on why Darwinism is questioned by the public at large. Part II, consisting of four essays, discusses the authors' opinions on the effects Darwinism has had on society and culture. Part III, consisting of three essays, deals with the personal intellectual journeys of contributors Behe, Denton, and Barham, whose attitudes toward Darwinism have changed through their lives. Part IV, consisting of four essays, presents the authors' opinions on the consistency and scope of Darwinism.

ISBN 1-932236-31-7

The Dissenters

The fifteen "dissenting intellectuals" are:

Although at least three of the contributors work in biology-related fields, none is a professional biologist.

References

  1. ^ "As I stated earlier, Johnson, Dembski, and their associates have assumed the task of destroying 'Darwinism,' 'evolutionary naturalism,' 'scientific materialism,' 'methodological naturalism,' 'philosophical naturalism,' and other 'isms' they use as synonyms for evolution." Barbara Forrest’s Letter to Simon Blackburn Barbara Forrest. March 2000. Quoted in Rebuttal to Reports by Opposing Expert Witnesses William A. Dembski. May 14 2005
  2. ^ "In his latest Commentary essay on 'Darwinism' - as it is often called by those who do not know much evolutionary biology..." Darwinism Versus Intelligent Design Paul Gross. Commentary Magazine, Vol. 115, March 2003, No. 3
  3. ^ Dembski, Uncommon Dissent, p. xx.
  4. ^ Uncommon Dissent, Intellectuals who find Darwinism Unconvincing Center for Science and Culture, June 1 2004.
  5. ^ National Association of Biology Teachers Statement on Teaching Evolution
  6. ^ IAP Statement on the Teaching of Evolution Joint statement issued by the national science academies of 67 countries, including the United Kingdom's Royal Society (PDF file)
  7. ^ From the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the world's largest general scientific society: 2006 Statement on the Teaching of Evolution (PDF file), AAAS Denounces Anti-Evolution Laws
  8. ^ Expert Witness Report Barbara Forrest, April 1, 2005, page 29.

External links

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