Wesleyan Scholars Program
WSP 1211: Evolution and Design
(Science and Social Controversy)
Syllabus

Evolution and Design: Science and Social Controversy

Scientific ideas occasionally engender social and religious unrest. The classic case is that of the Copernican/ Galilean revolution, which restructured the cosmos from the earlier Ptolomaic version that placed the earth at the center of the universe surrounded by "the sun and other stars." The idea of a heliocentric solar system no longer generates much heat. However, another revolutionary scientific theory continues to do so: Darwin's theory of evolution and its modern descendants. Evolutionary theory is regarded as one of the organizing theories for understanding the life sciences. The teaching of evolution in public schools, and proposals to teach alternative explanations of biological diversity, like "intelligent design," are generating increasing controversy involving parents, school boards, scientists and religious and political leaders. The Kitzmiller vs Dover Area School District Trial, which was concluded at the end of 2005, was the most recent of a series of court cases related to teaching evolutionary theory.

The "evolution wars" are an excellent case study of how scientific discovery can generate social controversy. Although the Evolution vs. Intelligent Design argument is sometimes presented as a scientific disagreement, it is substantially informed by other disciplines. The religious implications of acceptance of Darwin's ideas have been intensely debated, but, as the Kitzmiller trial showed, there are important implications for education, law, and politics as well. In this course, we will consider the history of the issue, study the Kitzmiller vs DASD trial documents and discuss the scientific, social, political, religious and legal issues related to this trial and its resolution.

Instructor: Dr. M. A. Clark, Professor of Biology
Office: McFadden 211 B (Map)
(Office Hours)  Campus Phone: 4896

WebCT Login: See the WebCT site for this class for copies of readings. 
Click here for Login Instructions if you are unfamiliar with WebCT

Books:

Richard Dawkins. The Blind Watchmaker. Norton, 1986.
(Full text online at: http://www.evolutionary.tripod.com/dawkins_blindwatchmaker_1996_full.pdf)

Selected resources from the following web archives:

Trial coverage of Kitzmiller vs. Dover Area School District
http://www2.ncseweb.org/wp/

The Jones Opinion
http://www.sciohost.org/ncse/kvd/kitzmiller_decision_20051220.pdf

Talk Origins:
http://talkorigins.org/

National Center for Science Education
http://www.ncseweb.org/

Answers in Genesis (Traditional Creationism)
http://answersingenesis.org

The Discovery Institute (Intelligent Design)
http://discovery.org

CSPAN Evolution Debates (broadcast 21 October 2005)
DVD: http://www.c-spanstore.org/shop/index.php?main_page=product_video_info&products_id=189479-1

The Atlantic. Flashbacks: Defending Darwin (collection of articles responding to Darwin’s theory)
http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200508u/fb2005-08-10

PBS: Evolution Online:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/index.html

AAAS Resources
http://www.aaas.org/news/press_room/evolution/
AAAS Resolutions related to the teaching of evolution
The Evolution Dialogues (released August 2006)

UT Dallas IDEA Club
http://www.utdallas.edu/orgs/idea/index.html

IDEA Web Site:
http://www.ideacenter.org/

New York Academy of Science: Teaching Evolution and the Nature of Science.
http://www.nyas.org/ebriefreps/main.asp?intSubsectionID=3663#branch

Teaching Evolution and the Nature of Science
http://newton.nap.edu/html/evolution98/

The Nature of Science
http://www.project2061.org/publications/sfaa/online/chap1.htm

PBC News Reports

Natural History

Constitutional Conflicts
http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/FTrials/conlaw/evolution.htm

Class Activities:

Students will read and be prepared to discuss book chapters, articles and essays drawn from the sources above. Evolutionary and creationist/ID explanations for selected biological phenomena will be analyzed. Portions of the trial testimony will be presented by students as in-class performances. Guest faculty from other departments or the law school may also be invited to comment on specific issues.

WebCT Login: Copies of course resources may be downloaded from the WebCT. The WebCT will also be used for all communications regarding this class.
Click here for Login Instructions if you are unfamiliar with WebCT

Evaluation and Grading:

Course grades will be based on the following components.  Specific instructions for each graded activity will be given during the semester. 

Possible Topics for Discussion

1. Background of the Controversy

2. Accounting for complexity: comparing the arguments

3. What counts as Science?

4. Can a line be drawn between evolutionary and designed phenomena, that is, can science accept "a little design"?

5. Kitzmiller vs DASD, 2005

6. Scientific Theory and Religious Resistance

7. Conflict Resolution

University Policies: This course will adhere to university policies on attendance, academic integrity, special accomodations, etc. Please read this section of the university catalog to familiarize yourself with these policies.