Adventures in Pseudo-Science

Read this article in the Times about the emerging debate over Darwin within conservative ranks. It's not just about the fact that some of their leading politicians admit to not believing in evolution. It's about whether Darwin can be used to justify conservative social and economic policies. Some conservative intellectuals, apparently, are contending

that Darwin’s scientific theories about the evolution of species can be applied to today’s patterns of human behavior, and that natural selection can provide support for many bedrock conservative ideas, like traditional social roles for men and women, free-market capitalism and governmental checks and balances.

“I do indeed believe conservatives need Charles Darwin,” said Larry Arnhart, a professor of political science at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, who has spearheaded the cause. “The intellectual vitality of conservatism in the 21st century will depend on the success of conservatives in appealing to advances in the biology of human nature as confirming conservative thought.”

One common tactic of creationists is to smear their opponents with the legacy of early-20th century Social Darwinists, as though they have anything to do with the teaching of evolutionary science. But perhaps it's a tactic that makes sense to the right-wingers, as it seems that it's their own allies who are, in fact, susceptible to to those very crackpot ideas.

Labels: conservatives, evolution

  ¶ Posted by Paul Curtis 7:43 AM 0 comments

  Kansas Throws Its Lot in with the Apes Again

Reality returned to Kansas today, after its most recent extended vacation from the Sunflower State, as the Board of Education repealed its anti-evolution curriculum guidelines. The state has thus rejoined the mainstream, rejecting so-called "intelligent design" in favor of, you know, actual science. If you're feeling a faintly dizzying sense of deja-vu, it's no wonder:

The state has had five sets of standards in eight years, with anti- and pro-evolution versions, each doomed by the seesawing fortunes of socially conservative Republicans and a coalition of Democrats and moderate Republicans.

Full credit to the undaunted people who managed to put things right again:

"Those standards represent mainstream scientific consensus about both what science is and what evolution is," said Jack Krebs, a math and technology teacher who helped write the new guidelines. He is also president of Kansas Citizens for Science.

As Liberal Values points out, it's a nice victory, but "it's a shame they couldn’t have done so one day earlier. It would have been a great way to celebrate Darwin Day."

Red State Rabble followed the deliberations, and should be a good source to follow for news on the aftermath (it also has links to a couple of anti-Brownback blogs, for your GOP presidential primary tracking pleasure).

Is this a sign that the hardcore conservatives of Kansas have reached their high-water mark?

Labels: education, evolution, Kansas, Liberal Values blog, Red State Rabble, social conservatives

  ¶ Posted by Paul Curtis 7:30 PM 0 comments