Intelligent design vs. evolution in the classroom. Should both be taught, or just evolution?

Question

I'm writing a paper on the pros and cons of teaching evolution on its own or alongside intelligent design in biology classes and would like to get different viewpoints. Please be respectful -- I'm just gathering opinions, not passing judgement on either side. Thanks.

Answer 1

Intelligent design is not science. This isn't being disrespectful. Just truthful. You cannot test the hypothesis behind intelligent design. It just isn't possible. While not all of Darwin's hypotheses panned out, enough of them have substantial supporting evidence that it does pass scientific muster and should be taught in biology. Intelligent design supposes a supreme designer to the universe. Nice idea, but how do you test it? How do you put this hypothesis to scientific rigor? How do you gather data on the supernatural? You can't. Intelligent design has its place, I'm sure. But I'm also sure that place is in a philosophy class. Not in biology.

Answer 2

There are several good answers here already but I'll add my voice. Intelligent Design is more of a Public Relations campaign than it is science. There are only a few scientists who have even tried to publish peer-reviewed papers in scientific journals on ID. There ideas have received no traction in the scientific community for very good reasons. Meanwhile there are "think tanks" that issue press releases and write essays in newspapers and popular magazines claiming that ID is a valid scientific theory that has been discriminated against.

I don't mind the idea of something like Intelligent Design being taught in a philosophy class, but only if the very substantial philosophical arguments against ID are discussed objectively.

Evolution is the corner stone of modern biology. I think every high school senior taking A.P. Biology should be required to have a basic understanding of Evolution. Without it, they simply aren't being exposed to modern biology.

Answer 3

In a accepted technology or Biology classification, evolution could learn. like a number of the different matters in such classes, the belief of evolution replaced into more suitable and examined making use of the universal scientific technique. It has held as much as years of examine and is consistent with all modern scientific data. besides the indisputable fact that, there are different venues wherein a part-by-part communicate could be suited. those could contain classes on philosophy or severe questioning.

Answer 4

I am firm in my belief in God, but nevertheless I don't believe that Intelligent Design should be taught in the classroom. I believe that religion and schools should be completely seperate. I might not believe in the evolution, but I can choose not to believe it if I so choose. Combining a religious theory and a scientific one only makes for an awkward classroom experience.

Answer 5

Science should be taught in Science class. God should be taught in History class.

But it would be real simple to add ID to lesson plan. The teacher just has to say "and some people believe that God created everything, but there's no proof of it or Him." Then some kid will get straight A's for answering every question with "because God created it that way".

Answer 6

Evolution only.

Intelligent design cannot be falsified and therefore is not scientific.

Many americans have this concept that we should teach the controversy or should teach both and let children decide -- but science isn't a popularity contest. It is a systematic exploration of facts. That's it.

Answer 7

Intelligent design should not be taught as it is not half as provable as evolution. Until Scientific evidence can prove one little tiny bit of intelligent design, let's stick to what we know.

Answer 8

Evolution is a scientific theory that is supported by empirical evidence. It belongs to the field of biology.

Intelligent design is not a scientific theory. The word theory is used here in a philosophic sense. It is supported by no verifiable empirical data. It belongs in a comparative religions class, philosophy class, history class, or any other type of social studies class.

Answer 9

Even thou i have no scientific evidence and it cant be proved I believe that Q from star trek invented the universe.

Since intelligent design also has no scientific evidence and is proposed to be taught, I only feel it fair to teach my theory.

Answer 10

Since faith is required for both points of view, I believe that neither should be taught in the public school classroom. Only pure, what's-really-observable science should be taught. Only experiments that can be repeated should be demonstrated in the classroom.