Science v. Religion? Intelligent Design and the Problem of Evolution

Features

• Cover Type: Paperback with 192 pages
• Published by: Polity
• Edition: 1st Edition October 15, 2007
• Written in: English
• ISBN 10 Number: 0745641229
• ISBN 13 Number: 978-0745641225
• Book Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches
• Weighs: 8.8 ounces

Product Review
"A balanced, detailed and well-presented introduction to all aspects of the argument." Father John-Paul Sheridan, Sunday Business Post "An engaging book. It will provide fuel for Fuller's critics who have accused him of 'pomo science' (postmodern science); energize ID theorists in their efforts to 'widen the wedge'; and serve food for thought for those still sitting 'on the fence' between ID and mainstream science. These are marks of a good book." Science in Christian Perspective "Steve Fuller's book is a philosophic and historical tour de force. I know no other book that provides such a balanced, timely, in-depth, account of the historical and philosophic origins and affiliations of contemporary Intelligent Design (ID) and Darwinism. Each chapter is informative, sharply analytic, provocative, probing, witty and superbly written. The historical roots of modern science in ID thinking that Fuller traces will be a much-needed eye-opener to many and a wholesome antidote to the historical amnesia that characterizes most contemporary discussion of the scientific status of ID and of Darwinian theory." John Angus Campbell, Memphis State University "Whether you are outraged by 'Intelligent Design' theory or annoyed by the attacks on it, Fuller's book is an indispensable guide to the controversy. He manages to not only supply the intellectual context, showing how much of this debate is traditional and how much is new, but makes clear what is reasonable on both sides, and why the debate matters so much to us." William Keith, University of Wisconsin

"A balanced, detailed and well-presented introduction to all aspects of the argument."


Father John-Paul Sheridan, Sunday Business Post





"An engaging book. It will provide fuel for Fuller’s critics who have accused him of 'pomo science' (postmodern science); energize ID theorists in their efforts to 'widen the wedge'; and serve food for thought for those still sitting 'on the fence' between ID and mainstream science. These are marks of a good book."


Science in Christian Perspective


“Steve Fuller’s book is a philosophic and historical tour de force. I know no other book that provides such a balanced, timely, in-depth, account of the historical and philosophic origins and affiliations of contemporary Intelligent Design (ID) and Darwinism. Each chapter is informative, sharply analytic, provocative, probing, witty and superbly written. The historical roots of modern science in ID thinking that Fuller traces will be a much-needed eye-opener to many and a wholesome antidote to the historical amnesia that characterizes most contemporary discussion of the scientific status of ID and of Darwinian theory.”


John Angus Campbell, Memphis State University





“Whether you are outraged by ‘Intelligent Design’ theory or annoyed by the attacks on it, Fuller’s book is an indispensable guide to the controversy. He manages to not only supply the intellectual context, showing how much of this debate is traditional and how much is new, but makes clear what is reasonable on both sides, and why the debate matters so much to us.”


William Keith, University of Wisconsin

Product Review
"A balanced, detailed and well-presented introduction to all aspects of the argument."


Father John-Paul Sheridan, Sunday Business Post





"An engaging book. It will provide fuel for Fuller’s critics who have accused him of 'pomo science' (postmodern science); energize ID theorists in their efforts to 'widen the wedge'; and serve food for thought for those still sitting 'on the fence' between ID and mainstream science. These are marks of a good book."


Science in Christian Perspective


“Steve Fuller’s book is a philosophic and historical tour de force. I know no other book that provides such a balanced, timely, in-depth, account of the historical and philosophic origins and affiliations of contemporary Intelligent Design (ID) and Darwinism. Each chapter is informative, sharply analytic, provocative, probing, witty and superbly written. The historical roots of modern science in ID thinking that Fuller traces will be a much-needed eye-opener to many and a wholesome antidote to the historical amnesia that characterizes most contemporary discussion of the scientific status of ID and of Darwinian theory.”


John Angus Campbell, Memphis State University





“Whether you are outraged by ‘Intelligent Design’ theory or annoyed by the attacks on it, Fuller’s book is an indispensable guide to the controversy. He manages to not only supply the intellectual context, showing how much of this debate is traditional and how much is new, but makes clear what is reasonable on both sides, and why the debate matters so much to us.”


William Keith, University of Wisconsin

Reader Reviews
For years, Fuller has been peddling the line that the superior insight vouchsafed him by his ostensible analysis of the social background of science makes him better able to understand science than mere scientists ever can. But his work is shot through with overwhelming evidence that specific scientific theories are well beyond his competence to understand. No matter; he babbles on ad nauseam, citing himself and his voluminous if redundant writings as the supreme authority at every turn. He provides the ultimate example of the academic careerist who can hector and bully his way to the top in a field where nobody is very eager to call anyone else's bluff. It is interesting to note, however, that work like "Science vs. Religion" represents a sharp turn in Fuller's ideological commitments. For years, he sold himself as the purest and most militant of leftists, scorning the tepid politics of rival gurus in the dubious field of "science studies", from Kuhn to Bruno Latour, in his relentless ambition to be recognized as King of the Hill. He was, for instance, a prominent contributor, along with such as Sandra Harding, Richard Levins, and Joel Kovel, to the doomed "Science Wars" volume of "Social Text" (doomed, that is, by its gullible inclusion of Alan Sokal's hoax article, which bamboozled Fuller as badly as it snookered the hapless editors). Now, however, he has jumped headlong into the embrace of the Discovery Institute and such, some of the most virulently right-wing characters in the landscape of American politics, offering only the weakest of rationalizations for his defection in the form of a lamebraned populism. Apparently, this sociological Deep Thinker is unable to recognize the most transparent truths about politics and society, of which the most relevant to this book is the fact that the Intelligent Design movement, as spearheaded by such as P.E. Johnson and W. Dembski, is unambiguously committed to transforming the USA into a theocratic society dominated by fundamentalist Christianity. Fuller seems now determined to be the leading professorial Useful Idiot of this movement. Needless to say, the specific evaluations he offers on scientific questions related to ID or to evolutionary biology as such are uncontaminated by any real insight into the science. This goes as well for his obiter dicta in other areas, such as the mathematics of chaos and complexity, where his opinions are unsullied by anything so vulgar as knowledge of the matter at hand. Those who have followed the Kitzmiller case may have noted that Fuller was presented as an "expert" witness by the hapless Thomas More Center lawyers trying to defend the medieval thinking of the Dover school board. He was put on to demonstrate that ID Theory is a legitimate science; he succeeded magnificently in persuading Judge Jones that exactly the opposite was true. Lord help the litigant who depends on such as Fuller to win over anyone with a grain of common sense! But, faut il mieux, the ID crowd continues to cling to Fuller, as he to them. Easily diddled as sociologists and cultural anthropologists may be, there are few of them so harebrained as to sign up with the madmen of the Discovery Institute. So what makes Stevie run? Beyond noting an egotism so vast as to transcend mere calculation, one can only speculate about the darker reaches of the human mind. We cannot look to Fuller himself for candor. But we can be grateful that P.E. Johnson and Associates are now stuck with this curious specimen, who can no longer claim any legitimate influence over progresssive politics.