The alleged "ideas that are antithetical to the values underlying the job" are
simply his religion. Some consider his religion antithetical; he does not. It
is not antithetical unless you accept certain other assumptions about the
relation between religion and science -- assumptions that his critics adopt but
that he rejects.
If he has said anything about science that is antithetical to sound science,
that would be a fair ground of criticism. But if he is sound when he talks
about science, and the only evidence against him is the inferences people draw
when he talks about religion, that is simply a religious disqualification.
Quoting Anthony Decinque <anthony.decin...@gmail.com>:
> Francis Collins has been selected to be the head of NIH, where he will have
> substantial authority to allocate the nation?s scientific research funding.
> There are a few criticisms of Mr. Collins being made regarding his religion..
>
>
> For this list, I wanted to set aside a specific criticism. Specifically,
> let?s ignore criticisms based on Mr. Collins using his government position
> to promote religion. (For example, if Mr. Collins were to give a speech, as
> head of the Human Genome Project, claiming that DNA is evidence for God.)
>
> Instead, I wanted to get the list?s opinion on a different criticism. This
> criticism goes like this: (1) science is a product of another, deeper, more
> important feature ? skeptical thinking; (2) Mr. Collins does not practice
> skeptical thinking; (3) in fact, Mr. Collins has made many statements
> undermining and contradicting skeptical thinking. Therefore, the criticism
> goes, Mr. Collins should not be the head of NIH because he undermines what
> science is all about.
>
> To get a flavor of the criticism, you can read this
> piece<http://www.reasonproject.org/archive/item/the_strange_case_of_francis_collins2/>by[1]
> Sam Harris.
> It is an elaboration of a NY Times editorial Mr. Harris recently
> authored. In
> response, biologist Kenneth Miller wrote in the NY Times that Mr. Harris has
> ?deeply held prejudices against religion? and opposes Mr. Collins merely
> because ?he is a Christian.?
>
> What does the list think? Should it be acceptable for an employer to
> discriminate against a job candidate on the grounds that the candidate
> believes, practices, and advocates for ideas that are antithetical to the
> values underlying the job? (Again, assuming that the candidate would not
> otherwise abuse the post and would generally do a fine administrative job.)
>
>
>
> Thanks,
>
> Anthony DeCinque
>
Douglas Laycock
Yale Kamisar Collegiate Professor of Law
University of Michigan Law School
625 S. State St.
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1215
734-647-9713
Links:
------
[1]
http://www.reasonproject.org/archive/item/the_strange_case_of_francis_collins2/>by
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