Required Reading Palumbi, S.R. 2001. The evolution explosion. Read Chapter 3, The Engine of Evolution.

Pigliucci, M. 2002. Denying evolution. Chapter 1, Where did the controversy come from? Read the sections entitled "In the beginning: The Great Debate that never was?," "Yet another trial of the century," and "A string of legal defeats." Pay particular attention to Judge Overton's criteria for determining what is science and what is not.

Pigliucci, M. 2002. Denying evolution. Chapter 4, Scientific fundamentalism and the true nature of science. Read the sections entitled "A closer look at this thing called science," "Popularly believed things about science that are (mostly) not true," "The limits of science," and "The alternatives to science." Compare Judge Overton's criteria to the characteristics of pseudoscience enumerated by Casti.

Overview of this class

There is little question but that pharaceutical research is science, albeit of questionable quality. We turn now to a different and perhaps even more fundamental question: What is science? What makes science different from the law, mysticism, creationism, or any other human endeavor? These questions are at the heart of the controversy over whether alternatives to evolution should be taught in public schools.

As a starting point, I will give a half hour presentation on Darwin's finches, complete with some pretty pictures, explaining exactly what evolution is. The key reading here is Chapter 3 of Palumbi's book.

We will turn next to the question of what distinguishing science from non-science. How can you tell if someone is a "real" scientist, or not? Does Judge Overton have it right?

Questions for class discussion

1. Bring to class one question about evolution, derived from reading Chapter 3 of Palumbi. I intend to go around the room, asking each student to ask me a question about evolution.

2. Would you modify Judge Overton's criteria for distinguishing between what is science and what is not? Under his criteria, might certain types of Casti's pseudoscience be labeled as science?

3. Many of the legal cases over the teaching of evolution concern the First Amendment. In this regard, one key question is: What exactly is religion? This is the obverse of the question considered by Judge Overton. In this regard, observe that religion and science are both human cultural institutions. Starting with this observation, identify important similarities between science and religion. Make the argument that science is just a special kind of religion.