Thread: Teaching ID

Do you thinking that teaching ID, thoroughly (showing scientists responses to it) would limit its effects? And if so, do you think that would make it worth teaching?

Originally Posted by Golkarian

Do you thinking that teaching ID, thoroughly (showing scientists responses to it) would limit its effects? And if so, do you think that would make it worth teaching?

Me? No, I don't think it's a good idea. We don't teach the stork theory of childbirth, and we don't teach the flat earth mentality. Why should we teach ID? Ya know?

I do, however, like Dan Dennett's idea of teaching about all of the major religions as a sort of "survey" to youngsters. Give them an idea of all of the different belief systems... what are the key tenets... how are they similar... how are they dissimilar... which would give kids a better sense of how it all fits together and maybe make them more prone to critical and clear understandings.

He gave a talk on this subject which IMO is well worth the 25 minutes.

http://www.ted.com/talks/dan_dennett...ck_warren.html

Should we teach astrology, showing scientists responses to it?

Perhaps we should teach Holocaust denial, showing historians responses to it?

Why not just teach science and the responses of scientists to science? Students can get ID, astrology, and antisemitism they want from the Internet.