From: George Murphy (gmurphy@raex.com)
Date: Sat Sep 27 2003 - 09:10:20 EDT
Keith Miller wrote:
>
> In my experience, "Darwinism" is commonly used as a pejorative that
> simply means "all aspects of evolution that I find objectionable." It
> is hardly ever defined, and is certainly not used in any consistent
> manner. I doubt whether many who use the phrase in public debate could
> even give a clear definition.
>
> An interesting part of this is that back during the conflict over
> science standards in Kansas, it was the anti-evolutionists who wanted
> to change the word "evolution" in the standards to "Darwinian
> evolution." Attaching the word Darwin to evolution produces an almost
> visceral negative reaction in some people.
This is part of the reason that I generally try to refer to both Darwin &
Wallace, at least at the beginning of a discussion of evolution via natural selection.
My purpose isn't to claim that there should be a 50-50 division of credit for the
theory, but to dilute the extreme attitudes - apotheosis & demonization - sometimes
expressed toward Darwin. (Apotheosis is less common but it exists.)
Shalom,
George
George L. Murphy
gmurphy@raex.com
http://web.raex.com/~gmurphy/
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