Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site unc.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!mcnc!unc!howes From: howes@unc.UUCP (Byron Howes ) Newsgroups: net.origins Subject: Re: Let's have scientific evolutionism too Message-ID: <7518@unc.UUCP> Date: Mon, 13-Aug-84 02:31:29 EDT Article-I.D.: unc.7518 Posted: Mon Aug 13 02:31:29 1984 Date-Received: Tue, 14-Aug-84 19:18:33 EDT References: <3388@cbscc.UUCP> Organization: University of North Carolina Comp. Center Lines: 37 Paul Dubuc begs Dick Dunn's question in a very novel manner. Dunn asks for some concise but complete statement of scientific creationism which stands on its own and does not depend upon an attack on evolutionary theory. Dubuc responds by asking that the proponents of evolutionary theory be held to the same standard. So far so good. Dubuc, however, goes on to complain about the tacit presuppositions seemingly imbedded in evolutionary theory and asserts that there is nothing less "religious" about evolutionary theory than about scientific (or religious) creationism. A fair point, perhaps, but it is not a meaningful response to Dick Dunn's question. I submit that evolutionary theory is not as dependent upon its exposi- tion upon creationism, either scientific or religious, as creationism is upon evolutionary theory. From my readings into the creationist literature I find that the whole of it depends upon pitons placed into supposed cracks in the evolutionary scheme. Such research as has been done is inevitably used as ammunition against evolution rather than to supplement the body of creationist theory. One gets the feeling that creationists believe that disproving evolutionary theory in its current state will somehow validate creationism. This seems to me to be a little strange. That evolutionary theory stands on its own does not mean it is an unassailable block. Were that so, scientific progress would not be possible. It does mean that its exposition does not depend upon undercutting other notions, be they creationism, Lysenkoism or stranger pictures of the development of life. That kind of exposition of scientific creationism was, I believe, what Dick Dunn was looking for. -- Byron Howes UNC - Chapel Hill ({decvax,akgua}!mcnc!unc!howes)