The Piltdown man was faked evidence for evolution. This occured over 100 years ago. Fifty years ago this hoax was exposed, yet this hoax is still in textbooks today. Textbook authors don't tell the students this evidence is a lie. If evolution is so well established why do they still point to lies as evidence?
2007-04-20 08:45:31 · 17 answers · asked by nivlem 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
Well lets see, I happen to have a bunch of textbooks handy, as I actually am a well educated biologist. So, since you're so sure of what you've been told by some creationist, surely one of my text books mentions the Piltdown man. Now, I have no idea what it even is, but since school textbooks still include it, I just must have forgotten or something.
So lets see:
Essential Cell Biology: Alberts et al-- no mention
Molecular Genetics: Snyder et al-- no mention
Genetics: Weaver et al-- no mention
Principles of Genetics: Snustad et al-- no mention
Some grumpy creationist on Y!A-- there it is, finally someone brings it up!
It is worth noting that while none of the microbiology or biochemistry books mention it, it is also not their field.
2007-04-20 09:05:42 · answer #1 · answered by John V 4 · 7⤊ 0⤋
If you're still seeing it in textbooks, there are a couple reasons why:
1) your school is using old textbooks. Sadly, updates don't automatically appear in old books, there is no 'refresh' button.
2) your school is ordering textbooks from inappropriate sources,
3) sometimes things take a long time to change in textbooks, because frankly, nobody cares about them at the intro-type level. This is why the old cambrian explosion picture with outdated never-existed critters illustrated still shows up.
That the hoax occured in 1912 (this is when the bones were collected, note, that's less than 100 years...) is irrelevant, by the way.
At any rate, I'm with the others who say it's not still used as evidence. It's an interesting tidbit of history now. People who study evolution use math and experiments primarily.
To continue the textbook survey...
Evolution, 2nd ed, Mark Ridley, 1996 - nope, not in here
2007-04-20 09:35:42 · answer #2 · answered by melanie 5 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Yes, Piltdown man was found to be a hoax. But I haven't seen it in any textbooks. All the other evidence for evolution are there though. And none of it is a lie. I suggest you do some more research on evolution. It is established as a scientific theory, which means it is accepted as truth. And the evidence that makes it that is not a lie.
2007-04-20 09:00:35 · answer #3 · answered by Take it from Toby 7 · 6⤊ 3⤋
Wait a minute who said it was well establish?The last two were the Nebraska man and the Pilot man both after the Neanderthal man,they both exist today in California Zoo's when they both existed 2 million years ago, so how to they existed then when they are existance of today. Aprox. around the late 70's in California the two apes existed which concludes the theory we did not come from Ape.We are the missing link and we are very much alive.Evolution in animals, yes, not man.Also it was written in theory in scriptures of Lucifer Mythology and I give a rats tail about Lucifer Mythology! It was always a Hoax during when I was in High School and if anybody believes that! Your tripping on some good stuff! I want you to share some with me.The Piltdown man is a hoax and I agree with all of you ;as well evolution in man too!
2007-04-27 12:41:35 · answer #4 · answered by " Venom !! " 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Today's textbooks do NOT use Piltdown Man as evidence for evolution, and as soon as it was exposed as a fraud, the SCIENTISTS who uncovered the fact made it public.
If Piltdown Man (PM) is to be found in any of today's textbooks, it is only as an illustration of how science works. In the case of PM, the hoax worked for about 40 years. Then, new evidence was discovered, and PM didn't fit in very well at all. A couple of scientists decided to reopen Piltdown, and determined that it was a fraud. It is indeed a blemish on the face of science that the hoax went on for so long undiscovered. It is also a gleeful weapon for creationists to use to propose that scientists and science can't be trusted to be honest. It has never been claimed by anyone with a brain that scientists are infallible, however, whatever biases any scientist or group of scientists may have, they are not shared by all scientists across the spectrum of academia. That is why Piltdown was exposed, without any help from creationist at all.
The nail in Pildown Man's coffin (pardon the pun) was isotopic dating. You, of course, know what that is, don't you? That annoying little thing that creationists say is inaccurate and can't prove anything? Funny how when it supports creationist views, they accept it without question.
You are also conveniently overlooking the fact that it was evolutionary scientists that exposed Piltdown as a fraud, not creationist "scientists," whose only real contribution to science is...well....nothing at all.
I dare say you are lying when you say that today's textbooks in school are omitting that Piltdown was faked. Nobody could possibly be that hopelessly misinformed. If you aren't lying to us, then you are lying to yourself.
Put your money where your mouth is, and name the textbook and the author, as well as the school, where any such textbook is used.
You won't.
You can't.
Now, everybody who is reading this, fold your hands, lean back in your chairs, and watch this creationist's argument fall apart.
El Chistoso
2007-04-20 09:59:27 · answer #5 · answered by elchistoso69 5 · 7⤊ 0⤋
The Piltdown hoax is perhaps the most famous archaeological hoax in history. It has been prominent for two reasons:
1. the attention paid to the issue of human evolution, and
2. the length of time (more than 40 years) that elapsed from its discovery to its exposure as a forgery.
2007-04-27 00:37:43 · answer #6 · answered by kittypetkitty5 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
They teach religion in school too. All the evidence for that is faked. The difference is with Piltdown Man the fake was exposed and admitted. Npt a single scientist uses it as evidence of evolution. Unlike all the discredited so called evidence for religion.
Piltdown Man is very far from the only evidence of evolution - the forgery was made to make money, not science.
2007-04-20 09:08:27 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 8⤊ 2⤋
To continue the textbook survey (all are printed within the last 6 years):
Biology, by Campbell, Reece, & Mitchell - not here
Biology, by Alters & Alters - not here
Human Evolution, by Wood - not here
What Evolution Is, by Mayr - not here
The Book of Life, by Gould - not here
Philosophy of Science, by Okasha - not here
Hmmm.....not one mentions the Piltdown man.
2007-04-20 10:26:14 · answer #8 · answered by Niotulove 6 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Why don't you look in a textbook in your own school and see what is really there instead of believing what someone else has told you?
Or, are your textbooks 50 years old?
2007-04-20 09:39:11 · answer #9 · answered by Joan H 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
give me the name(s) of this widely used textbook(s) that say this and I will personally hand them to one of the foremost evolutionary biologists in the world who as luck has it loves knocking down publishers doors to correct misinterpretations and misrepresentations of evolution and the evidence supporting it. If not don't waste our time.
2007-04-20 17:55:27 · answer #10 · answered by rgomezam 3 · 5⤊ 0⤋