Synthese Reminder: Two days left

Posted 30 December 2010 by Richard B. Hoppe

A reminder that the papers in the special issue of Synthese edited by Glenn Branch and James A. Fetzer are available online free for just two more days, today and tomorrow. After the 31st they disappear behind the Springer paywall. Get 'em while they're free!

13 Comments

Doc Bill · 30 December 2010

I recommend the paper by Kelly Smith, Foiling the Black Knight.

How many creationists have we sliced and diced only to have them exclaim, "Come back here, you coward! I'll bite your knees!"

OgreMkV · 30 December 2010

Yep and I forwarded it to a bunch of people. It's really good reading.

Stevaroni · 30 December 2010

Doc Bill said: I recommend the paper by Kelly Smith, Foiling the Black Knight.

Got to agree with you there. I kept thinking about that paper while I was reading about the new Behe "paper". It could have been written specifically about him and his minions.

Mark Perakh · 30 December 2010

The article by Jeff Shallit and Wes Elsberry has been available for a long time on Talk Reason, and remains there, so after Dec. 31, it still will be available for free (it is in PDF). It is a great article which has preserved its value despite so many years passing. Just open Index of authors on TR, and click either on Shallit or on Elsberry, and enjoy it. Congratulations, Jeff and Wes, finally after such a long delay your paper appeared in print.

Ghrom · 31 December 2010

This comment has been moved to The Bathroom Wall.

John Kwok · 31 December 2010

I just finally finished downloading this. Am looking forward to reading this when I have the time.

Matt G · 31 December 2010

Doc Bill said: I recommend the paper by Kelly Smith, Foiling the Black Knight. How many creationists have we sliced and diced only to have them exclaim, "Come back here, you coward! I'll bite your knees!"

Just read it too. Well written, but, of course, frustrating. Her best suggestion for a solution is a focus on pre-college education. Unfortunately, this is the age when people are most influenced by their parents, clergy, etc. What chance do I have as a teacher if all the evidence I present is ignored because the child was raised in a creationist household? If parents say one thing and the science teacher says another, who is the kid going to believe? I once had a kid who dealt admirably with this struggle (he was very bright and saw the conflict) and I have high hopes that I was able to rescue him.

Doc Bill · 31 December 2010

Smith highlights humorously the futility of arguing or even having a conversation with creationists.

Years ago the image of the Black Knight came into my head when I heard Behe in an interview right after his testimony at Kitzmiller. Behe, who as we all know got annihilated on the stand looked his normal bemused self and said, "I think it went quite well."

Denial, it's not just a long river.

John Kwok · 31 December 2010

More like an alternative plane of existence if you ask me:

Doc Bill said: Denial, it's not just a long river.

JGB · 1 January 2011

I don't have any great data, but one potential strategy that I have employed, and it is some what hinted at in the Black Knight article is to really try and build in the proper way of thinking before they even get to a biology class. Things like the importance of observation, and then creative hypotheses that are supported by the evidence. Basically I try to get them to appreciate that biology is doing the same things as all of those other sciences that didn't set-off alarm bells. I also try to tackle certain really bad creationist arguments in physics and chemistry (like misconceptions over carbon dating and entropy). If one was really ambitious getting fellow teachers from other disciplines to help reinforce and teach things like logical thinking particularly in history is helpful in my mind.

Science Avenger · 1 January 2011

Doc Bill said: I recommend the paper by Kelly Smith, Foiling the Black Knight.

Linky?

RBH · 1 January 2011

Science Avenger said:
Doc Bill said: I recommend the paper by Kelly Smith, Foiling the Black Knight.
Linky?

All the papers were at the link in the OP. They're now behind a paywall.

Kelly Smith · 20 January 2011

I'd be happy to send the manuscript of my paper to anyone interested - just email me: kcs at clemson dot edu