Abusing Science: The Case Against Creationism

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Summary: This book exposes the lack of science in creation science.
Review: Abusing Science is a wonderful book that places so-called Creation "Science" in a true scientific light. The actual intent of the book is not really to prove evolution but rather to expose the out of context quotes, fallacies, and misinformation that creation "scientists" use in an attempt to discredit evolution. Philip Kitcher takes each of the creationist attacks and analyzes their scientific validity. As you follow his arguments you discover there is little or no science in the creationists' claims. What science you are able to discern has been taken out of context, warped or simply misunderstood by creationists.

Kitcher takes the reader first on a short historical tour of both evolution and creationism. He begins his book this way in order to arm the reader with enough background information for even the uninitiated to understand both sides of the debate. He also discusses the philosophy of science so that we may understand how scientists formulate their theories. Only then does he make his foray into creationist arguments against evolution. At this point the reading becomes engrossing as you follow Kitcher's discussions when he destroys one by one the creationists' arguments. In the end he exposes creation science as really being non-science. He also discusses the ramifications of following the beliefs of creation "science" in our scientific world.

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Summary: How Creationism Doesn't Measure Up To Science
Review: Kitcher, a philosopher of science, presents a comprehensive discussion of "creationist science" and evolutionary theory. Creationists, according to Kitcher, scavenge the scientific literature in their attempts to find 'evidence' they can use to refute the theory of evolution and support the Biblical account of creation. Their goal: to convince the non-scientific public to accept teaching creationism alongside evolution in biology classrooms. But as Kitcher points out fairness doesn't require treating both theories as equal in merit. He contends that "science is an exercise in believing where we cannot prove. Yet, scientific conclusions are not embraced by faith alone" (32). According to Kitcher, three factors distinguish a "successful" scientific theory: testability, problem-solving usefulness, and fruitfulness. Kitcher shows how, according to these criteria, Darwin's theory and its subsequent revisions measure up while creationism fails. Two objections: Kitcher's discussion of Popper's views as "naive falsificationism" seems a bit unfair to Popper. Also Kitcher mostly sidesteps the implications for religion and ethics of a scientific and evolutionary world view.

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Summary: The Case Against Creationism by a Philosopher of Science
Review: Philip Kitcher is a philosophy of science professor at the University of Vermont, and presents the case against Creationism from his professional viewpoint. This is an excellent presentation of the case by a philosopher, and can be easily understood by the average reader. Admittedly creationists will not be converted by this or any other book supporting evolution as their belief system will not allow it. I am amused by creationist reviews of books on evolutionary topics when they criticize "evolutionists" as not having open minds. I believe in evolution because the evidence seems to support it, not because I have any religious need to believe it. If the scientific community decided tomorrow that the theory of evolution is wrong, I would be fascinated by the information, and not threatened by it.

Kitcher shows the lack of logic in creationism, and exposes it as non science. Particularly vexing are his many examples of creationists quoting scientists out of c! ontext to try and prove their point.

This is an excellent book for the open minded, non belief threatened individual who is truly interested in assimilating more information on evolution and creationism.

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Summary: Superb Dissection of Creationist Arguments
Review: Philip Kitcher is a professor of philosophy at UC-San Diego. A specialist in the philosophy of science, he has also authored books on sociobiology and cloning. This book is a valuable contribution to the evolution-creation debate.

In "Abusing Science," Kitcher's emphasis is on the logic of creationism--dissecting the arguments made by creationists, especially Henry Morris and Duane Gish of the ludicrously-named Institute for Creation Research, and thoroughly debunking them. To give one specific example: Creationists are fond of arguing that evolutionists date fossils based on the ages of the rocks in which the fossils are found. But, say creationists, the dates of the rocks are established using fossils; so, they claim, evolutionists are guilty of circular argument. Kitcher shows how this argument is a misrepresentation of the science: creationists ignore the numerous alternative, independent methods for dating rocks, such as radiometric or stratigraphic methods. Throughout the book, Kitcher exposes scores of weak creationist arguments just like this.

It is worth noting that Kitcher quotes at great length from creationist authors, and cannot validly be accused of any misrepresentation of their arguments.

Kitcher also shows how the creationist attack on evolution is really an attack on all science: "If evolutionary biology is to be dismissed...all the major fields of science will have to be trimmed--or, more exactly, mutilated--to fit the creationist bill."

While Kitcher's somewhat meticulous style makes some demands on the reader, it is well worth the effort. Even though his book is nearly 20 years old, it is still relevant to today's debates--it is astonishing how many of the arguments put forward by Philip Johnson, for example, are just recycled from Morris and Gish. Anyone who is a science educator or is concerned with educational policy would find this book especially valuable.

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Summary: Still The Finest Book Criticizing 'Scientific' Creationism
Review: Philip Kitcher's seminal work critical of "Scientific" Creationism remains a clarion call against those who continue abusing science to fit their own zealous religious agenda. Kitcher goes beyond making a point by point defense of evolutionary biology - indeed, all of science - and a total refutation of creationism. He makes a persuasive case why "Scientific Creationism" isn't good science. For example he observes how distinguished 19th Century geologists such as Adam Sedgwick disgarded their creationist view of geology, realizing that it was outmoded, invalid science not supported by empirical evidence. Kitcher gives a succinct description of how scientists embark on their research, demonstrating how "Scientific Creationism" falls short of the ideals of excellent science. Kitcher successfully notes why those who argue equal time for "Evolution Science" and "Creation Science" in high school science education are misguided, devious, or both. Last, but not least, Kitcher demonstrates the religious origins of "Scientific Creationism". This is indeed an important primer on how to think rationally, answering at length all criticisms of contermporary science by so-called "scientific" creationists. First published in the 1980's, "Abusing Science" remains an important tome in the history and philosophy of science deserving of a broad readership.

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Summary: A stellar piece of work!
Review: This book is an absolute must have for the science teacher. The creationists rely on the open mind of most teachers to obfuscate and confuse with half-truths and outright deception. This book examines the creationist's claims one-by-one and exposes the falsities in each of their arguments. Kitcher's work should be required reading in all teacher-training programs as it explains clearly and succinctly what science is and how it works to help us understand the world around us. Lastly, this is the kind of book that you will want to read several times just because it is so darned good! Another good book in this vain is Carl Sagan's "The Demon-Haunted World" ISBN 039453512X

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Summary: The Classic Anti-Creationist Work
Review: This is an older book, but it still remains the classic refutation of Scientific Creationism. While many new discoveries have been made in the nearly two decades since this work first appeared, Kitcher still provides a valuable inquiry into the tactics of the Scientific Creationists, and exposes the vacuity of their arguments soundly.

This is true because much of this book explains the philosophy of science, and the scientific method, rather than relying on detailed expositions of particular scientific findings. Kitcher exposes the great difference that exists between the very natures of science and creationism.

Kitcher examines the main arguments of creationists, and describes why they are wrong. But more importantly, he looks carefully at their tactics, and illustrates their essential dishonesty.

For instance, Creationist literature is full of comments taken out of context from mainstream scientists, in an attempt to make it look like those scientists believe something very different than what they actually believe. He shows how both Gish and Morris, arguably the two most popular creationists, use this tactic repeatedly.

For example, Gish discusses the work of A.W. Crompton, who demonstrated in 1978 and 1979 how the bones of the mammalian ear developed from the jawbones of reptiles. He then declares, "Kermack and his co-workers now reject this idea." Gish neglects to tell us, however, that Kermack's hypothesis was published in 1968 and 1973, a full decade before Crompton's work, which, of course, superceded it.

Likewise, Morris quotes G.G. Simpson's "The Major Features of Evolution" as saying that most new species appear suddenly in the fossil record in an attempt to demonstrate his assertion that no transitional fossils exist. Morris does not tell us, however, that in the paragraphs immediately proceeding and following the one Morris quotes, Simpson provides many examples for transitional fossils, including a summary of the fossil record for the mammalian orders.

In short, Kitcher shows that creationists are perfectly willing to lie if necessary, which says volumes about the true state of the evidence for creation "science".

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Summary: Another blow against irrationality...
Review: _Abusing Science_ is widely recognised as being the seminal work on refuting the oxymoron of: "Scientific" Creationism. Philip Kitcher begins by introducing the reader to the history of evolution and the basics of genetics. He then continues by treating the reader to arguments cutting through creationist misinformation with ease. As has been observed by other reviewers, his thesis comes from a "science of philosophy" perspective whereby he debunks creationists who claim that their theory is scientific. He carefully presents the reader with the real nature of science and demonstrates how it has nothing to do with the pseudo-science of creationism. I would thoroughly recommend this book as a starting point into the debate between creationists and scientists. Even though other, newer books are available on the topic, Kitcher's arguments, which are not based on scientific discoveries but instead concentrate on the philosophy of science, are still valid to this day.