Bridging Cultures Institute 2002

Evolution from a Bridging Perspective: An Interdisciplinary Problem

Science as story-telling and re-telling

Taking seriously science as story-telling I. Which of the following two stories do you prefer?

1. The earth is flat
2. The earth is round

Refs:

• Flat Earth Society
• Earth Observations Movie Studio

Answer the question and explain the reasons for your preference in the institute forum area. (See responses)

---

Because of ...

• personal observations?
• observations made by others (personally verified or not)?
• social stories (heard from others)?
• other?

---

Taking seriously science as story-telling II. Which of the following two stories do you prefer?

1. The sun goes around the earth
2. The earth goes around the sun

Refs:

• The Galileo Project
• Which Way IS It?

Answer the question and explain the reasons for your preference in the institute forum area. (See responses).

---

Because of ...

• personal observations?
• observations made by others (personally verified or not)?
• social stories (heard from others)?
• other?
• is one or the other story "true"?

---

Taking seriously science as story-telling III. Which of the following stories do you prefer?

1. Existing life forms (including humans) are as they are because of a previous and ongoing process of evolution consisting of random change and natural selection (differential reproductive success).
2. Existing life forms (including humans) are as they are because of repeated creative acts of a supernatural being with a plan and intent?
3. Existing life forms (including humans) are as they are because of an initial creative act with a supernatural being with a plan and intent?
4. Other?

Answer the question and explain the reasons for your preference in the institute forum area. (See responses).

---

Because of ...

• personal observations?
• observations made by others (personally verified or not)?
• social stories (heard from others)?
• other?
• is one or the other story "true"?

---

Some relevant observations (personally verified or verifiable):

1. "Clumpiness of life"
2. Similarities in constituents, development, genomes among existing organisms
3. Fossil record
4. Observed evolutionary change, experimental and natural
5. Potential of randomness and simple rules to generate "complexity"
6. Current failure to generate "life" from molecules in laboratory
7. Current failure to generate cells from molecules in laboratory

---

A Social/Political Issue: Which of the following would you prefer?

1. Teach evolution as the "story" of origins in science classrooms?
2. Teach evolution as one among several equally good "stories" of "origins" in science classrooms?
3. Teach evolution in science classrooms and other stories in other classes?
4. Other?

Refs:

• Science and Creationism
• Creation Science
• National Center for Science Education
• In the beginning ..., from today's NY Times

Answer the question and explain the reasons for your choice in the institute forum area. (See responses)