Lecture 18 - Modern opponents of evolution Flashcards
What was the Evangelical movement?
Evangelical movement fought against the theory of evolution – wanted to ban the teaching of evolution in the public schools
What was the scopes monkey trial in 1925 about?
First epic battle against the theory of evolution (Creation vs Evolution)
According to the America constitution, religious views of any kind, of any religion, aren’t allowed to be in the legislation because there is an official separation between church and state. But the evangelicalist wanted religion to be taught in public schools
What was the Butler act in 1925 about?
Illegal to teach evolution in public schools
Teachers used the science textbook which includes evolution -> but they weren’t allowed to teach evolution
Evangelical parents felt that it was not fair that evolution (an idea that they hated) are allowed to be taught in public schools but their religious beliefs were banned.
What is Evangelicalism?
Christian Fundamentalism
What were the ideas that were brought up to try to hide religion under the pretence of science?
Creationism
Creation-Science
Intelligent design
What was the Irreducible complexity in Michael Behe’s “Darwin’s black box about?”
Argued that some structures in nature and living things are so complicated that they cannot be reduced (i.e. if you remove one component the entire system will not work)
Hence such a complex structure wouldn’t be possible to have come about in a slow and gradual way as proposed by Darwin (should come all at once)
Was the argument of irreducible complexity logically sound?
No. It is a logical fallacy (argument from ignorance)
What is the appeal to consequences fallacy
two ideas/concepts that cannot be logically connected
A logical conclusion cannot be drawn from A to B
E.g. belief in evolution leads to immoral behaviour
Who coined the term Eugenics and when was it coined?
Frank Galton
1883
What is Eugenics?
It is the improvement of the human species through selective breeding
What is positive Eugenics?
originally designed as a benign system to improve humanity, to decrease the percentage of people in the world with disease, deformities and bad propensities, like the propensity to beat their children or to be alcoholics. They thought that by careful breeding, one could make humanity happier. (do not let these people reproduce; allow the “good” people to reproduce)
What is negative Eugenics?
not about improving desirable characteristics, but instead of getting rid of people whom they consider to be have undesirable characteristics (e.g. mentally retarded, criminals, handicapped) – resulted in enforced sterilization of these people
Was Hitler inspired by Darwin?
No
How old is the Earth and how was it measured?
Around 4 to 4.5 billion years old. Measured by radiometric dating (discovered by Ernest Rutherford)
What is the age of the universe?
Around 13 billion years old
