evolutionary subjects vs evolutionary methods

[John Grehan]

Colin Kaneen

>
>While the course does focus to a degree on natural selection (Darwin,
>Malthus, etc.), things such as speciation and species concepts (including
>the phylogenetic species concept), mass extinctions, inter- and
>intraspecific interactions and co-evolution are also discussed.  The
>instructor also invites experts from other departments in to explain thigs
>such as human evolution and the evolution of the universe (we can't be an
>expert in everything).
>
>Do you think that this is a better way to handle the topic of evolution?
>It is not discussed as fact, theory or fiction and we are not asked to
>believe it if we don't want to, but it allows for some light to be shed on
>the subject.

After having been exposed to all these subjects, how would you summarise the
methodology of evolutionary theory? Think of this in terms of teaching
high school students. What would you describe as evolutionary methods -
not just evolutionary interpretation of methods that might stand alone whether
a creationist or not (e.g. one can do cladistics whether or not one is a
creationist).

John Grehan