Category: Evolution
Posts about evolution, science, and the philosophy of science
Science vs. religion, evolution vs. creation, “blind watchmaker” vs. “intelligent designer,” and other related debates are a national undercurrent in America. The USA is quite unique among developed nations in that these debates remain, while in most developed nations “science” has “won,” and few people self-report as religious.
The following posts and discussions are intended to offer clarity about how science really works, what evolutionary theory really says, and how these facts impinge upon the plausibility of “supernaturalism” and spirituality.
Important Terms
As I said when discussing the notion of “incommensurable paradigms” (see the Kuhn article), for us to properly discuss evolutionary theory, we must “get into it” as thoroughly as possible. That means, in part, understanding some key terms …
Falsification and Intellectual Honesty
Last week in my lecture, I used an example of what I would take as a falsification of a literal interpretation of the early chapters of Genesis (which, I said, would actually have huge, sweeping implications throughout the Bible). I …
Scientific Theories
At times I speak “loosely” and quickly to make a point. For example, I have said things like, “My theory predicts that this chair will turn purple. Wait for it. Okay, it didn’t happen. So my theory has been falsified.” …
Thomas Kuhn and the Structure of Paradigms
Thomas Kuhn wrote The Structure of Scientific Revolutions in 1962. Perhaps no other volume has had as much of an impact on philosophy of science and on how scientists themselves perceive their work. Even the terms “paradigm” and “paradigm shift” …
Introduction to Evolutionary Theory
Finally we have enough background “pieces of the puzzle” on the table that we can have a semi-responsible discussion of evolutionary theory.
The first thing to note is that “evolutionary theory” has really gone beyond a typical “theory” at this …
Observables and Unobservables
Let’s say that I ask you a simple question: “Do you have hands?”
Do you even need to look before you answer? Of course not! You have used them, you have seen them, and you have felt them too many …
Realism vs. Anti-Realism
The reason this whole seminar makes “the rubber meet the road,” so to speak, is that we are ultimately doing metaphysics. We are ultimately talking about knowing about what there really is in the universe. We want reality! We …
Laudan’s Critique of Underdeterminism
In “A Critique of Underdeterminism,” Larry Laudan argues that both scientists and philosophers of science speak much too loosely when they talk about “underdeterminism.” Laudan argues that there is really a whole range of versions of underdeterminism, and these versions …
Philosophy of Science Continued
To this point in our seminar, we have been leading to this present discussion at the core of philosophy of science: What exactly is the so-highly-vaunted “scientific method?” To further describe “what science is,” we will now build upon concepts …
The Problem of Induction
David Hume can rightly be called The Empiricist. He more carefully and thoroughly explicated the implications of empiricism than anybody before or since. Even the mighty Immanuel Kant (whom we will repeatedly reference as we continue in this course) …