The Language of Argument

4 4 8

C H A P T E R 2 0 ■ S c i e n t i f i c R e a s o n i n g

NOTES

(^1) Thomas Kuhn gives prominence to this difference in his important work, The Structure of
Scientific Revolutions, 2nd ed. (Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press, 1970).
(^2) Stephen Colbert, I Am America (And So Can You!) (New York: Grand Central Publishing, 2007), 207.
(^3) From Cosmic Pursuit 1, no. 2 (1998): 27–35.
(^4) Living with Darwin (New York: Oxford University Press, 2007), 85–95.

1. How does Kitcher explain the evolution of the human eye? Is this explana-
   tion adequate? Why or why not?


2. How does Kitcher explain the evolution of the bacterial flagellum? Is this
   explanation adequate? Why or why not?


3. Are there examples that Darwinians cannot explain? What does this show?


4. Can intelligent design theory itself explain the examples that are supposed
   to cause trouble for Darwinian theories of evolution?


5. Is “intelligent design” a scientific theory? Why or why not?


6. In your opinion, should “intelligent design” be required (or allowed) to
   be taught in public high schools alongside evolution and natural selection
   as part of the science curriculum? Why or why not? (It might help to read
   Judge Jones’s opinion in Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District.)

Discussion Questions

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