The Village Atheist wondered: "But what does the idea of evolution do for most people on a day to day basis? Nothing. It does nothing for me either. And I know about it!" LoisThat was me that wondered that Lois. That's my quote.
If they really aren't interested in science, what is driving them to form radical opinions about it? LoisYou know the answer to that Lois. Obviously churches are high up on the list. But my post a few spaces up elaborates on that. I believe it helps to further alienate people(thus causing them to care even less about science) by using polls and the like to highlight some perceived deficiency or absence of intelligence in a population segment. I say perceived because like I said, the vast majority of people don't need to incorporate evolution in their daily lives.
You know the answer to that Lois. Obviously churches are high up on the list. But my post a few spaces up elaborates on that. I believe it helps to further alienate people(thus causing them to care even less about science) by using polls and the like to highlight some perceived deficiency or absence of intelligence in a population segment. I say perceived because like I said, the vast majority of people don’t need to incorporate evolution in their daily lives.In all honesty Vy, most people don't give a crap about the poll because they haven't read it. As you stated, they don't care because it has no effect on their lives or World views. Most people just put their heads down and plow through life as best as they can with little thought as to evolution, history, philosophy, or higher math. In short, "if I don't need it to survive then what the hell". IMO, like Jefferson I still believe in giving everyone a chance to explore facts rather than dismissing life with a bunch of fairytales and a self deprecating philosophy that leads them to believe that their fate is sealed in a dead end job with no hope until the afterlife they've been promised. Knowing the facts, forming their lives around truth could be helpful. At least they might see their fate could change if they wanted it to,but we've discussed that in another thread and I don't want to segue into another discussion about free will. Yeah, I can't live without it because it's a challenge and pretty close to an obsession and part of my daily life. I liked being informed on many subjects, others don't and that's their right and privilege and I do respect that right as long as it doesn't impact me directly or indirectly. Cap't Jack
Well VA it’s not just the poll. It’s lot’s of stuff…Like Darwin Fish on Volvos for example.
Or court cases, or newspaper articles, or defiant teachers in school who refuse to teach it. Or who stray from the curriculum and offer their own opinions. Lot’s of stuff.
Many of the people who are apathetic about are probably at least slightly aware of it’s controversy.
In all honesty Vy, most people don't give a crap about the poll because they haven't read it. As you stated, they don't care because it has no effect on their lives or World views. Most people just put their heads down and plow through life as best as they can with little thought as to evolution, history, philosophy, or higher math. In short, "if I don't need it to survive then what the hell". Cap't JackWell said Cap't. That's why they are so pliable in the hands of religious "Shepherds", Hollywood and corporate power-politics PR specialists.
The Village Atheist wondered: "But what does the idea of evolution do for most people on a day to day basis? Nothing. It does nothing for me either. And I know about it!" LoisThat was me that wondered that Lois. That's my quote. Ok, I'm sorry. i thought it was you, then couldn't find the original quote. I see that The Village Atheist was quoting you. Credit where credit is due. I've fixed my original post. Lois
The Theory of Evolution underlies modern biology, good luck finding cures for many illnesses by pretending that DNA, and Epigenetics don’t function in the way we’re learning they do.
I think at some point it’s going to take more effort to pretend that Evolution doesn’t exist than it takes to accept it widely.
Understanding man’s place in nature much better also helped drive the scientific revolution that gave us Special Relativity, General Relativity and Quantum Theory, the last allows us to communicate the way we are now. Science isn’t a pick-and-choose endeavour, advances in one area often lead to advances in others the whole thing is a synthesis. Trying to control the process weakens the entire structure, maybe that’s one reason why Evolution get’s picked for attack by some groups that would seem to like to roll back intellectual development to a point where they’re more comfortable. It’s a key underpinning of modern intellectual understanding.
Well VA it's not just the poll. It's lot's of stuff..Like Darwin Fish on Volvos for example. Or court cases, or newspaper articles, or defiant teachers in school who refuse to teach it. Or who stray from the curriculum and offer their own opinions. Lot's of stuff. Many of the people who are apathetic about are probably at least slightly aware of it's controversy.My Darwin Fish is on my 5-year-old Honda. ;) Lois
My Darwin Fish is on my 5-year-old Honda.Mine is on my eight year old Ford Escape. :-) Cap't Jack
It would be interesting if a poll could reveal what motivated their uncertainty. e.g. Was it religiously motivated, out of ignorance or apathy. I'm inclined to believe the latter. We need more science classes and fully trained teachers in public education as a start. http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/bigphotos/21329204.html Cap't JackAgreed. I can't wait when people stop saying "It's just a theory". If one wants to attack evolution, they should be at least be a little more scientific. We also need more things like this (apologies for some of the long links, but my computer often report them as spam if I try an other way) http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evosite/misconceps/IVAandreligion.shtml Science and religion around the World Oxford Univ. Press page 163, 166-167 http://books.google.ae/books?id=W6HPW1TodZwC&pg=PA163&dq=old+ulama+class+has+an+accommodative+approach+and+harmonious+attitude+in+presenting+new&hl=en&sa=X&ei=kujAUuHhFJHMsga_5oGgAQ&ved=0CC0Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=old ulama class has an accommodative approach and harmonious attitude in presenting new&f=false http://books.google.ae/books?id=W6HPW1TodZwC&pg=PA166&dq=claimed+could+be+seen+as+compatible+with+a+Muslim+cosmology+and+faith+in+the+created+world&hl=en&sa=X&ei=CejAUuOqKsWXtAaY-oGwBQ&ved=0CC0Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=claimed could be seen as compatible with a Muslim cosmology and faith in the created world&f=false http://en.islamtoday.net/artshow-437-3448.htm
Well I.J. Abdul Hakeem, I finally got to looking at those sites and I was very un-impressed>
What’s any of that got to do with the price of tea in China? Or “evolution” to be more specific.
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I’m curious what does “evolution” mean to you and for god sake please don’t sent me to more religious sites.
I really am curious - when someone talks about the long march of evolution on this planet what does that mean to YOU?
Sad but true but look at the percentage of "not sures" on the chart. That's a sizable chunk of Americans who seem to not care one way or the other. It would be interesting if a poll could reveal what motivated their uncertainty. e.g. Was it religiously motivated, out of ignorance or apathy. I'm inclined to believe the latter. We need more science classes and fully trained teachers in public education as a start. http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/bigphotos/21329204.html Cap't JackYes I totally agree with you VA. It's mostly apathy. Why wouldn't it be? We are science and learning people more or less.(me much less...) Obviously we are focused on these polls and on the concept of evolution itself. But what does the idea of evolution do for most people on a day to day basis? Nothing. It does nothing for me either. And I know about it! People don't care about evolution..and they shouldn't have to if they don't want to. After learning it in school of course and graduating all the classes with acceptable grades. After that...let them pursue their interests and goals. And obviously your average person can't do anything with the knowledge of evolution. Evolution does affect all of us on a day-to-day basis. If it weren't for evolution we would have almost no effective medicines, no vaccinations and almost no knowledge of genetics. Anyone who rejects evolution knows nothing about evolution. It is proven to exist every day in laboratories and is the bedrock of biology. "Evolutionary processes give rise to diversity at every level of biological organisation, including species, individual organisms and molecules such as DNA and proteins." Wikipedia Try doing without it. It's theism alone that leads people to reject evolution. It's theism that interferes with scientific understanding. People who reject evolution reject humanity and science. Lois
Evolution does affect all of us on a day-to-day basis. If it weren't for evolution we would have almost no effective medicines, no vaccinations and almost no knowledge of genetics. Anyone who rejects evolution knows nothing about evolution. It is proven to exist every day in laboratories and is the bedrock of biology.Yet millions of people are getting along just fine by being apathetic about it. Probably because they are not the ones developing the medicines or doing the research.
"Evolutionary processes give rise to diversity at every level of biological organisation, including species, individual organisms and molecules such as DNA and proteins." Wikipedia Try doing without it.How would I go about trying to do without it?
It's theism alone that leads people to reject evolution. It's theism that interferes with scientific understanding. People who reject evolution reject humanity and science. LoisDo you know the difference between rejecting and apathy?
Evolution does affect all of us on a day-to-day basis. If it weren't for evolution we would have almost no effective medicines, no vaccinations and almost no knowledge of genetics. Anyone who rejects evolution knows nothing about evolution. It is proven to exist every day in laboratories and is the bedrock of biology.Yet millions of people are getting along just fine by being apathetic about it. Let's consider how well we have done without an appreciation for evolution. . . we have guaranteed that over the next few decades / half century, pretty near all coastal cities will be trashed beyond recognition. But, Republicans tell us that's no problem we can adapt, although the GOP's only strategy for adaptation seems to be clinging to their fantasy/cartoon Bible stories with ever more fervor and to buy ever more weapons of mass destruction for the home and the nation. Yet, the geophysical reality of this planet we depend on is simple - if we spend another decade continuing to ignore what we are doing to our atmosphere (that is continuing the exponentially growing injections of 'greenhouse gases' into our thin atmosphere) along with it's cascading consequences we will pretty much guarantee the end of not only "globalism" but human civilization, if not the species entirely. And you say no problem? And yes I am convinced the two* are intimately connected. *Willful ignorance and that faith-based rejection of the fundamentals of evolution science - both planetary and biological, (which are actually more intertwined that people suspect) - and the general public oblivious attitude towards what we are doing to our planet's life-support system.
Let's consider how well we have done without an appreciation for evolution. . . we have guaranteed that over the next few decades / half century, pretty near all coastal cities will be trashed beyond recognition. But, Republicans tell us that's no problem we can adapt, although the GOP's only strategy for adaptation seems to be clinging to their fantasy/cartoon Bible stories with ever more fervor and to buy ever more weapons of mass destruction for the home and the nation. Yet, the geophysical reality of this planet we depend on is simple - if we spend another decade continuing to ignore what we are doing to our atmosphere (that is continuing the exponentially growing injections of 'greenhouse gases' into our thin atmosphere) along with it's cascading consequences we will pretty much guarantee the end of not only "globalism" but human civilization, if not the species entirely. And you say no problem? And yes I am convinced the two* are intimately connected. *Willful ignorance and that faith-based rejection of the fundamentals of evolution science - both planetary and biological, (which are actually more intertwined that people suspect) - and the general public oblivious attitude towards what we are doing to our planet's life-support system.I had no idea that Global Warming and Evolution were somehow connected. But hey, what are you wasting time for CC, you better get busy convincing everyone that knowledge of evolution is important to the survival of the Planet.
i’m working on it,
too bad it’ll be too late to make a damned bit of difference.
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yea, yippy it’s all a dream we dreamed one afternoon long ago
Youz got yours so damned the rest.
*Willful ignorance and that faith-based rejection of the fundamentals of evolution science - both planetary and biological, (which are actually more intertwined that people suspect) - and the general public oblivious attitude towards what we are doing to our planet's life-support system.I'll ask you too CC, do you know the difference between rejection(willful ignorance) and apathy? Try to stay within at least a few miles of my points.
*Willful ignorance and that faith-based rejection of the fundamentals of evolution science - both planetary and biological, (which are actually more intertwined that people suspect) - and the general public oblivious attitude towards what we are doing to our planet's life-support system.I'll ask you too CC, do you know the difference between rejection(willful ignorance) and apathy? Try to stay within at least a few miles of my points. Yea, look at the way the Republicans have framed the Global Warming science debate ! >:-(
Willful ignorance is accepting the sort of total transparent con-job folks the likes of Lindzen, Morano, Watts, McIntyre et als. spout.
*Willful ignorance and that faith-based rejection of the fundamentals of evolution science - both planetary and biological, (which are actually more intertwined that people suspect) - and the general public oblivious attitude towards what we are doing to our planet's life-support system.I'll ask you too CC, do you know the difference between rejection(willful ignorance) and apathy? Try to stay within at least a few miles of my points. Yea, look at the way the Republicans have framed the Global Warming science debate ! >:-( Is this about global warming now. Are we shifting to a new topic?