8/3/2019 Why Evolution is the Most Contested Theory

1/2

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.

8/3/2019 Why Evolution is the Most Contested Theory

2/2

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.