Rick, one would expect that anyone with a high school diploma would have, at the very least, a passing knowledge of evolution and Darwinism. Of course, one would be wrong. The level of ignorance in our population is not to be underestimated. What the folks meant by believing in evolution, or not, I can't say. That's part of the problem with polls and surveys.
A rather high percentage of Democrats don't believe in evolution either - 40%, with Independents at 37%. Here's the latest Gallup poll.
However, I don't think evolution is in the same category with quantum mechanics.
But this is a joke. What's your opinion on the monkey survey?
As my daugher, who attended "Jane Goodall Camp" a few summers back never ceases to remind me, we are descended from apes, not monkeys.
So, I think the monkeys are not to be trusted. Always trying to topple us apes from the top spot.
But, on a more serious note (sorry), I was a little appalled to find that question asked of presidential candidates. And I grimace because the question can be very ambiguous. Most of us outside of the fundamentalist camp have no problem with Darwin's account of speciation through mutation and natural selection--or at least it's a matter most of us are incompetent to judge.
But, during its short life, evolution has diverged from being an explanation for the origin of species to a highly plastic "theory of everything," expressly appealed to, at various times, to support Marxist class conflict, predatory capitalist competition, fascist national agression, racism, and eugenics. As an ethic or metaphysic evolution is a disaster, and has been, repeatedly. That's why, even with my ordinary ease with the biological theory, I would feel I'd have to give something more than a sound bite for whether I did, in fact, "believe in" evolution.
I agree that those in fields far outside science have seized upon Darwin to attempt to rearrange our every day lives in many different ways. When I speak of evolution, I'm speaking of the science that is provable by scientific methods. I presume that is what the surveyors meant. Of course, I could be wrong.
What, I wonder, does it mean to "believe in evolution"? What would most people say if asked whether they "believed in quantum mechanics"?
ReplyDeleteRick, one would expect that anyone with a high school diploma would have, at the very least, a passing knowledge of evolution and Darwinism. Of course, one would be wrong. The level of ignorance in our population is not to be underestimated. What the folks meant by believing in evolution, or not, I can't say. That's part of the problem with polls and surveys.
ReplyDeleteA rather high percentage of Democrats don't believe in evolution either - 40%, with Independents at 37%. Here's the latest Gallup poll.
However, I don't think evolution is in the same category with quantum mechanics.
But this is a joke. What's your opinion on the monkey survey?
I believe in monkeys. I also believe in fairies sometimes. I'm not so sure about Republicans.
ReplyDeleteEd, I believe in monkeys, and I believe in fairies of all sorts.
ReplyDeleteJust look around you, and you will be convinced that Republicans are real.
"What's your opinion on the monkey survey?"
ReplyDeleteAs my daugher, who attended "Jane Goodall Camp" a few summers back never ceases to remind me, we are descended from apes, not monkeys.
So, I think the monkeys are not to be trusted. Always trying to topple us apes from the top spot.
But, on a more serious note (sorry), I was a little appalled to find that question asked of presidential candidates. And I grimace because the question can be very ambiguous. Most of us outside of the fundamentalist camp have no problem with Darwin's account of speciation through mutation and natural selection--or at least it's a matter most of us are incompetent to judge.
But, during its short life, evolution has diverged from being an explanation for the origin of species to a highly plastic "theory of everything," expressly appealed to, at various times, to support Marxist class conflict, predatory capitalist competition, fascist national agression, racism, and eugenics. As an ethic or metaphysic evolution is a disaster, and has been, repeatedly. That's why, even with my ordinary ease with the biological theory, I would feel I'd have to give something more than a sound bite for whether I did, in fact, "believe in" evolution.
I agree that those in fields far outside science have seized upon Darwin to attempt to rearrange our every day lives in many different ways. When I speak of evolution, I'm speaking of the science that is provable by scientific methods. I presume that is what the surveyors meant. Of course, I could be wrong.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the laugh, Mimi. Whether or not you remembered it correctly, it's still funny!
ReplyDeleteI believe in monkeys because I have seen them here in Panamá. I also believe that there is a Smirking Chimp in the White House.
ReplyDeleteEl Padre, pardon me, but those questions were not included in the surveys.
ReplyDeleteIs seeing really believing? What about lying eyes?
Of course, you could be right.
At least 66% of me doesn't believe that monkey Republicans should be running this country.
ReplyDeleteThat's right, Dennis. And I'm one of them 66%. Me an Padre Mickey and lotsa folks.
ReplyDelete