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Day 2 at the Royal Society: A “Knee-Jerk” Jab at Intelligent Design, Applause for “Marginalized Ideas”

Andy Gardner slide.jpeg

Douglas Axe of Biologic Institute is tweeting. Regarding a presentation by Andy Gardner, University of St. Andrews, on “Anthropomorphism in evolutionary biology,” Dr. Axe reproduces Dr. Gardner’s slide (above) that compares “Darwinism” and “Intelligent Design” and depicts a cheetah in pursuit of prey.

According to the slide if you blow it up, Darwinism’s “process” is “natural selection,” while its “purpose” is “maximize fitness.” ID’s “process,” says Gardner, is “God did it” while its purpose is “???” Oh for goodness sake, what a cartoon.

Doug Axe:

Andy Gardner’s knee-jerk ID dismissal. Never mind that cheetahs r less fit than their supposed bacterial ancestors.

Regarding a presentation by Eva Jablonka, University of Tel Aviv, on “The role of epigenetic inheritance in evolution”:

Eva Jablonka calls for marginalized ideas that don’t fit classical neo-Darwinian thinking to be given their proper place. Applause erupts.

We could do without the applause. But how about letting advocates of “marginalized ideas” speak? They’re right in the room with you, folks, and no doubt delighted to say a few works if allowed.

I’m on Twitter. Follow me @d_klinghoffer.

David Klinghoffer

Senior Fellow and Editor, Evolution News
David Klinghoffer is a Senior Fellow at Discovery Institute and the editor of Evolution News & Science Today, the daily voice of Discovery Institute’s Center for Science & Culture, reporting on intelligent design, evolution, and the intersection of science and culture. Klinghoffer is also the author of six books, a former senior editor and literary editor at National Review magazine, and has written for the Los Angeles Times, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Seattle Times, Commentary, and other publications. Born in Santa Monica, California, he graduated from Brown University in 1987 with an A.B. magna cum laude in comparative literature and religious studies. David lives near Seattle, Washington, with his wife and children.

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