ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
*****************************************************************************
Charley;
The why of science especially in the case of evolution is where we
can get into trouble. However, we may ask that question, Why?, it is
the framing of the answer that is the problem. Remember the
exchanges : "Why?",
"Because",
"But WHY?",
"BECAUSE I SAY SO!"
Instead of answering Why? frame the question as: Why you should care
about evolution? What is the relevance of evolution to our, and our
visitors', lives? Doe evolution have any impact on us and how is it
important to our lives?
I think these maybe the hooks to get visitors interest.
Martin
my two cents:
This is not a scientific debate and no amount of scientific work will
serve to dissuade creationists or convince them that evolution is a
fact and that the theory of evolution is the best explanation of that
fact.
This is not even a theological debate. It is, in the end, a
political and social movement that drives the resurgence of
creationism. And while we do not like it, creationism is likely to
remain a "live" belief in western and non-western society for a very
long time to come, as most of the reasons people have for being of a
particular kind of anti-science tradition are in no way related to
scientific reasons.
But that is not the issue. Most creationism will disappear when good
education is given to children. It is no accident that they seek to
control the teaching of children - this is the most effective way to
keep the beliefs alive. So too do other ideologies; not only the
Marxist-Leninists of yore, but the present conservatives, and before
them, the social democrats. So as long as we permit creationism,
including intelligent design creationism, to dominate educational
standards and policies, it will continue to be a problem for science
and society in general.
>
>Lisa:
>
>Re: "Yes, we can find evidence that evolution occurs. But why? Now
>THAT's the question! Because of natural selection (one theory).
>Because of "intelligent design?" (another possible theory ??)"
>
>I like to throw in a distinction: There's WHY and there's HOW. The
>theory of natural selection explains how, but so far as I can tell
>doesn't get into why. On the other hand, intelligent design looks to
>explain why, but is thin on how. It's been my experience that most
>"why" questions in science are actually "how" questions, because
>their answers are explained through phenomena or fall back on the
>most basic of assumptions. (e.g., "Why does the piece of metal stick
>to the nails with the wire wrapped aound it?" is explained by "how"
>an electromagnet works. Does anybody really know why? Laws of
>physics may describe it, but they don't assign purpose.)
>
>Best regards,
>
>Charlie
>Charles Stout
>Media Arts Manager
>Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum
>Ann Arbor, MI
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Eric Siegel <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Sent: Wed, 13 Apr 2005 20:32:16 -0400
>Subject: Re: ethics and science centers - query
>
> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related
>institutions.
>
>*****************************************************************************
>
>
> I don't think anyone is suggesting that we condemn people who don't
>believe that natural selection and related theories explain
>biological change over time, or to establish a moral hierarchy among
>believers in various world views. I think it is both fair and maybe
>necessary to point out the power of the scientific explanation and
>its differences from religious explanations.
>
> On a related topic, a colleague of mine, a biologist, surveyed
>teachers and students to see the extent to which they distinguish
>between "evolution" which he calls a phenomenon, and "natural
>selection" which he calls a theory. I think that is the terminology
>he uses, and it is an interesting distinction for me. I think it is
>going to be published in a peer reviewed journal soon, so I'm not
>sure if I can share the paper, but I will ask him if anyone is
>interested.
>
> I think the question of environmentalism is kind of a done deal,
>every informal or formal educational institution seems to accept
>that human caused environmental degradation is both a fact and
>something that should be minimized or reversed if possible.
>
>Eric Siegel
>Executive VP
>Programs and Planning
>New York Hall of Science
>47-01 111th Street
>Queens, NY 11368
>esiegel at nyscience dot org
>
>On Apr 13, 2005, at 7:58 PM, Lisa Jo Rudy wrote:
>
> > ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology > Centers
> > Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and
>related > institutions.
> >
>*********************************************************************** >
>******
>>
> > With all the conversation going on about evolution and the >
>importance/meaning of science, I'd be interested in museum >
>professionals' take on the questions --
>>
> > should science centers take moral positions on issues in which
>they > are involved? If so, what should those moral positions be?
>Should > all ASTC institutions share the same moral positions?
>>
> > For example -- do ASTC institutions have a moral obligation to
>take a > stand on evolution? Or should they simply clarify the
>difference > between evolutionary theory as a scientific concept and
>creationism as > a religious concept)? Should ASTC institutions take
>an ethical stand > on topics like cloning, global warming, etc. --
>or is their purpose to > engage visitors in non-judgemental
>exploration of scientific topics, > and to help visitors better
>understand the scientific method without > reference to ethics one
>way or another?
>>
>> (just keeping the conversation lively!!)
>>
> > ***********************************************************************
> > More information about the Informal Science Education Network and the
> > Association of Science-Technology Centers may be found at >
>http://www.astc.org.
>> To remove your e-mail address from the ISEN-ASTC-L list, send the
>> message SIGNOFF ISEN-ASTC-L in the BODY of a message to
>> [log in to unmask]
>>
>
> ***********************************************************************
>More information about the Informal Science Education Network and the
> Association of Science-Technology Centers may be found at
>http://www.astc.org.
>To remove your e-mail address from the ISEN-ASTC-L list, send the
>message SIGNOFF ISEN-ASTC-L in the BODY of a message to
>[log in to unmask]
>
>
>***********************************************************************
>More information about the Informal Science Education Network and the
>Association of Science-Technology Centers may be found at http://www.astc.org.
>To remove your e-mail address from the ISEN-ASTC-L list, send the
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>
>***********************************************************************
>More information about the Informal Science Education Network and the
>Association of Science-Technology Centers may be found at http://www.astc.org.
>To remove your e-mail address from the ISEN-ASTC-L list, send the
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--
Martin Weiss, Ph.D
Vice President, Science
New York Hall of Science
47-01 111 th Street
Corona, New York 11368
718 699 0005 x 356
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