Manufactroversy

Leah Ceccarelli has just penned a fascinating analysis of how so-called scientific controversies are created to serve political purposes:

"With all the sophisticated sophistry besieging mass audiences today, there is a need for the study of rhetoric now more than ever before.  This is especially the case when it comes to the contemporary assault on science known as manufactured controversy:  when significant disagreement doesn't exist inside the scientific community, but is successfully invented for a public audience to achieve specific political ends.  Three recent examples of manufactured controversy are global warming skepticism, AIDS dissent in South Africa, and the intelligent design movement's 'teach the controversy' campaign."

The entire essay was published in the science policy journal of the Center for American Progress.  Dr.  Ceccarelli is an associate professor in the Communications Department at the University of Washington.  She reaches rhetoric and is the author of the award winning book Shaping Science with Rhetoric.   

Ben Stein's latest entry in the culture wars: creationism

Maybe I'm out of touch, but it was news to me that Ben Stein (former Nixon speechwriter, monotone teacher in Ferris Bueller's Day Off, etc. etc.--if you watch the video below, you'll get to hear him list his many accomplishments) is a strong proponent of intelligent design.



His new film, Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed, due out next month, is positioned as an expose of the controlling, elitist, (etc.) academic establishment, its enslavement to Darwinism, and the terrible punishment that scientists who promote ID have received at its hands. I just watched the trailer, which -- no kidding -- implies that the Holocaust was the result of the theory of evolution. I find it offensive, and also slightly ominous, that Stein is comfortable using imagery of the ovens for his political purposes here. It also appears that he had no compunctions about getting scientists to talk to him under false pretenses, as PZ Myers of Pharyngula reports here--with a funny followup here.

Having Cake is Different From Eating Cake

The National Academy of Sciences has just released a new book, Science, Evolution, and Creationism, to explain the differences between religion and science, and to clarify the currently muddled discussion on matters entangled in the current conflict.

NYT reports:

...it is intended specifically for the lay public and because it devotes much of its space to explaining the differences between science and religion, and asserting that acceptance of evolution does not require abandoning belief in God.

...The 70-page book, “Science, Evolution and Creationism,” says, among other things, that “attempts to pit science and religion against each other create controversy where none needs to exist.” And it offers statements from several eminent biologists and members of the clergy to support the view.

In the past year, there has been a significant push-back by prominent atheists and skeptics against dogma-based attacks on science, but this new publication will be key in defusing the artificially constructed conflict between two completely different human endeavors. Hopefully, this year will mark the emergence of a new movement to continue this effort.

Is Evolutionary Theology the 'middle path'?

Wired's Brandon Keim is writing a few stories about the intelligent design vs evolutionary theory debate and how latest showdown on this will take place in Florida, where opposition is mounting to state -mandated emphasis on the importance of evolution to science education:
" Jesus, meet Darwin...In the aftermath of a Texas education official's dismissal for promoting evolution, I spoke yesterday to Michael Dowd, a leading proponent of evolutionary theology...'Evolutionary theology offers a third way. Rightly understood, evolution is as sacred and meaningful as any of the creation myths,' said Dowd, who quoted biology titan E.O. Wilson, sometimes called Darwin's heir: 'The evolutionary epic is probably the best myth we'll ever have.'"

I love what E. O. Wilson has to say about this in his TED video:



It gives me hope that we can transcend the petty 'culture wars' and find a new way to respect all our biosphere and all living beings.