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8/3/2019 Why Evolution is the Most Contested Theory
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Why Evolution is the Most Contested Theory
OR
A Tip on Teaching Science
By: Taylor Webb
Religion is often said to be relied upon for the why whereas science can
be trusted only with the how. This is true, but for a reason different than
most people assume. First of all, the assumption is that somehow why is a
more profound or important question, which is often not the case. Second, the
answers that many religions and cults give to the why questions are assumed
to be more satisfactory because they explore the question more instead of
saying there is no why, it just happens. The mistake is thinking that talking
about or considering a question more leads automatically to a more reliable
answer, and that a more reliable answer is more correct.
The problem with why is that it is ambiguous, and it secretly hides two
questions. The first question, the one that comes to the mind of the scientist
and draws him in is what is the reason? This is firmly within the realm of
science and is a perfectly reasonable question to ask. The problem is that
why is also secretly asking what is the purpose? This question is not
really answerable in science, it is not a question of empirical facts or reasoning.
What ends up happening is that a scientist gets himself dug into a hole by
answering why and gets cornered when the circumstances subtly change the
quest from reason to purpose.
An example: Why does the Earth rotate around the Sun? The scientist
will explain the rotation of the planets, gravity, centrifugal force, maybe even
some Einstein or quantum theory, but he will never answer (nor be able to
answer) what is the purpose ofastronomical momentum?So by asking why
the Earth rotates around the Sun one is really setting science up for failure.
Best to avoid why all together, and heres another reason to do so:
Why totally screws up evolutionary theory. Imagine you are learning
about evolution, you are a young mind just beginning to be moulded. Whenasking why you are not so stubbornly on sciences side to ignore purpose in
favour of reason, and this is disastrous for your understanding of evolution.
Why dont humans have hair like other apes? Because the ability to sweat
allowed them to travel faster and farther in the hot savannah. Good reason,
terrible purpose.
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You see, according evolutionary theory the reason all the hairy humans
died was that they couldnt sweat as well. But now, according to the high
school student who was told about this by his teacher, the purpose the apes
had for somehow getting rid of their hair intentionally was to sweat better,
which they somehow knew would give them an advantage on the savannah
that they had not yet decided to move onto. What does that even mean? How
does that make any sense? Isnt evolution stupid?!
Dont worry, this is easily resolved. All we have to do is encourage
teaching what the reason is for phenomena, and avoid using the tricky double-
edged sword of why.Then Im sure in no time generation after generation will
think science and/or evolution is stupid for entirely different and less
preventable reasons.