Episode 8: The Ghost in the Machine

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This episode inaugurates our series on the history behind the evolution-intelligent design controversy. Today, we examine the deep history of scientific method, and how the rules evolved to the point where intelligent design cannot follow them.

Guest essay - John Burchfield and Shalane Giles, “The Evolution of Scientific Method”

• for further reading:
  • A. J. Ayer, Logical Positivism (Free Press, 1959).
  • William A. Dembski, Design Revolution: Answering the Toughest Questions about Intelligent Design (InterVarsity Press, 2004).
  • William A. Dembski and Michael Ruse, eds., Debating Design: From Darwin to DNA (Cambridge UP, 2004).
  • Barry Gower, Scientific Method: A Historical and Philosophical Introduction (Routledge, 2002).
  • Malachi Haim Hacohen, Karl Popper, the Formative Years, 1902-1945: Politics and Philosophy in Interwar Vienna (Cambridge UP, 2000).
  • David C. Lindberg and Ronald L. Numbers, eds., When Science and Christianity Meet (University of Chicago Press, 2003).
  • Ronald L. Numbers, The Creationists: From Scientific Creationism to Intelligent Design (Harvard UP, 2006).
  • Michael Ruse, The Evolution-Creation Struggle (Harvard UP, 2006).
  • Sergio Sismondo, Introduction to Science and Technology Studies (Blackwell, 2004).
  • The TalkOrigins Archive: an online collection of articles on the evolution-intelligent design controversy, including documents from the McLean v. Arkansas case.

• John Burchfield and Shalane Giles are both seniors at Southwestern University. John is studying political science and has ambitions of becoming a writer. Shalane is studying religion and biology; after graduation, she plans to travel and may attend graduate school.

On the Shelf:

• Todd Tucker, The Great Starvation Experiment: Ancel Keys and the Men Who Starved for Science (University of Minnesota Press, 2008).
• You can listen to more about Ancel Keys’ starvation experiments in this podcast episode from American Radio Works: Battles of Belief.

Audio credits:

All music on this program courtesy of the Podsafe Music Network, except where noted.

• Sunburn in Cyprus, History (intro & outro)
• Happy Gemini 3, Pondering the 10^th Planet (transitions)
• during guest essay:
  • Devin Anderson, Pop Science (courtesy of PodSafe Audio)
  • Asteria, Jamais Tante (courtesy of Magnatune)
  • Rhonda Lorence, Winter Moon (courtesy of Magnatune)
  • Andreas Haefliger, Bartok Out of Doors Suite Sz. 81 The Night’s Music, Musettes, and Barcarolla (courtesy of Magnatune)
  • Solace, Tiger Moon Dance (courtesy of Magnatune)
• Science Groove, Necessary but Not Sufficient (following guest essay)
• Sound effects courtesy of the FreeSound Project:
  • Book pages turning