Denying Evolution

I'm currently reading "Denying Evolution: Creationism, Scientism and the Nature of Science" by Massimo Pigliucci. Chapter 3 is titled "One side of the coin: the dangers of anti-intellectualism". The first thing Prof. Pigliucci points out is that there is some justification for the distrust of rationalism. Basically, he points out that "sterile" rationalism a la Star Treks Spock can be as equally devastating as someone who is completely irrational.

But the point that first caught my eye concerned education, evolution and the "right" of the majority. A 2004 poll showed that 55% of Americans believe that God created humans in their present form. This is a completely irrational belief based on evidence. But it is a majority opinion. Should we then teach that God created humans in their present form in our schools and do away with the concept of evolution? Or, are we going to teach the best of what we currently understand about the natural world? Prof. Pigulucci asks whether we should vote on other scientific issues. Is the Earth flat or round? Does the Earth revolve around the Sun or is it the other way around? Prof. Pigulucci asks, do we base our teaching on the best science available or on political demagoguery?

These are questions worth pondering during this Presidential election year. Republicans tend to behave in an anti-intellectual fashion for some reason. Especially when it comes time to elect a President. Wouldn't you rather elect a guy you'd like to have a beer with than some effete, intellectual that actually thinks about problems? Well, G.W. Bush has answered that question for me. Still, John McCain, who cannot operate a computer, doesn't know how many houses he owns (or his wife owns), and can't remember which countries no longer exist, is the preferred Republican candidate for President. McCain, by the way, graduated near the bottom of his class at Annapolis. McCain probably wouldn't have been qualified to be admitted to Annapolis if it wasn't for his father's position in the US Navy. Yeah, yeah, I know John McCain spent 5 1/2 years as a POW so I need to cut him some slack.

Now, on the other hand, the Democrats are nominating a younger, thinking person, who wasn't brought up with a silver spoon in his mouth. He worked his way into an Ivy League university and got a law degree. They nominated a guy who doesn't think the answer to the question "when does life begin" can be answered in two words.

So based somewhat on anti-intellectualism, Republicans are arguing that we need at least 4 more years of what G.W. Bush brought us....maybe even worse.