falsifying evolution

[Thomas Schlemmermeyer]

As I already outlined in a private mail to John Grehan, the debate about
creationism seems rather bizarre for an outsider and requires, in my opinion,
first a deep-rooted historical and sociological understanding.

We have to face the following facts: In the USA, the separation between public
and churches is far more rigid than in some other societies (in Germany, for
example, churches and state cooperate in many areas).
Interestingly, many Americans are very christian and puritan.
Hence, the steady tentatives of some clerical circles to interfer with public
education systems.

For constitutional reasons, these disturbances cannot be done with religious
ambitions, therefore scientific motives are alleged. And, "scientific
creationism" is born.

I think evolution cannot be falsified. This should not bother us. Evolution is
about Natural History. Explaining history requires other criteria of
falsification than strict empirical laws, like those of physics.





On (         Mon, 16 Aug 1999 11:34:03 -0400
),         Bill Shear <BILLS at HSC.EDU> wrote:


>Isn't the real difference between the creationist and evolutionist research
>programs the inclusion of a supernatural (unlawful) element in the former?
>For the creationist, any deviation, no matter how strange, can be explained
>by divine intervention--a miracle.  Since one can explain everything that
>way, there is no need to explain anything.  Hence no testable hypotheses
>and no science.
>
>I still don't understand what John Grehan is asking.  Could you possibly
>give us a statement of your question in so many words, and an example of an
>acceptable answer?
>
>Bill Shear
>Department of Biology
>Hampden-Sydney College
>Hampden-Sydney VA 23943
>(804)223-6172
>FAX (804)223-6374
>email<bills at hsc.edu>
>


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Thomas Schlemmermeyer
Museu de Zoologia, Universidade de S?o Paulo
Caixa Postal 42694
CEP 04299-970
S?o Paulo, SP, Brasil

Resid?ncia:
Thomas Schlemmermeyer
Caixa Postal 00276
CEP 14001-970
Ribeir?o Preto, SP, Brasil

Fone, Fax: 016 6371999
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