The Program on Science, Technology and Society at
Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government presents:
Beyond the Creation-Evolution Controversy:
Science and Religion in Public Life
Panelists
Janet Browne, History of Science, Harvard
Cornelia Dean, New York Times
John H. Evans, Sociology, UC San Diego
Eric Rothschild, Pepper Hamilton LLP
Monday, April 28
4:30-6:30 pm
Thompson Room
Barker Center for the Humanities
Barker Center is located at 12 Quincy Street, Cambridge.
(see map at
http://map.harvard.edu/level3.cfm?mapname=&tile=F7&quadrant=D&series=W.)
The public school systems of the United States have experienced more than 80
years of corrosive conflict over teaching evolution in biology classes. During
this time, actors and strategies have changed, legal arguments have been
sharpened or redefined, and even the name used to characterize the religious
position has shifted, from creationism to intelligent design. What remains
constant is the framing of the dispute as being between regressive religion and
progressive science or, more dramatically, between faith and the Enlightenment.
Positions have polarized around two major arguments, neither yielding
significant hope of reframing or compromise. The pro-religion position denies
the factual status of Darwinian evolution, and claims that?since it is only a
theory?other theories concerning the origins of life on Earth are entitled to
equal respect. The pro-science position claims that religious opposition to
evolution is grounded in ignorance of the scientific method, and support for
doctrines like intelligent design in the schools constitutes an impermissible
establishment of religion. Attempts to make peace between these irreconcilable
positions by designating spaces as clearly scientific or clearly religious have
repeatedly foundered. The biology classroom is the most visible site of a
broader struggle.
In an effort to break through this impasse, this panel brings together an
impressive, interdisciplinary group of experts from law, sociology, history of
science, and journalism. Speakers will describe from their professional
perspectives and personal experience, what is at stake?socially, politically,
and epistemically?in the debate over evolution, and how a more nuanced
understanding of this phenomenon might lead to more productive conversations
between science and religion. The panel will consider how claims about the
superiority of one form of knowledge over another are wrapped up in the
American politics of cultural authority and with concerns regarding the freedom
of thought and belief.
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For more information about the STS program at Harvard, please visit our website
at: http://www.hks.harvard.edu/sts/.
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