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Spring 2004
Prof. Rudy Garns - Office: LA 240 - Phone: 572-5528
garns@nku.edu - http://rudygarns.com/clas
Section 001 TR 9:25 - 10:40 HR 010
Course Description: The title of
the course "Creationism and Science" really conflates several different issues
and invites a number of questions.
- Creationism and Evolutionary Theory: Does Creationism or Evolutionary
Theory best explain the origins of species in general, or the origins and
nature of human beings specifically?
- Religion and Science: Do religion and science represent different
(perhaps incompatible but equally legitimate) ways of gaining knowledge or
justified beliefs? Is scientific knowledge by its nature necessarily incomplete?
Is creation science a legitimate kind of science? Do (non-empirical) revelation
and faith represent legitimate (reliable) sources of knowledge or justified
belief?
- Theism and Naturalism: Does one need to posit or exclude supernatural
phenomena (God, divine creation, miracles) to explain the world adequately?
In this class we will confront these questions and others. The course will
cover the folowing topics:
- Creationist objections to evolutionary science
- Methodological Naturalism
- Naturalistic Epistemology
- Faith and Reason
- Theistic Evolution
- Intelligent Design Creationism
- Education and Tolerance
- Mind, Meaning, and Morality
The course will be run as a seminar in which students are expected to contribute
significantly to the discussion with questions, comments, and critiques relevant
to the reading assigned for the class period and the topic under consideration.
Texts:
- Abusing Science: The Case Against Creationism. Philip Kitcher
(MIT, 1982).
- Intelligent Design Creationism and Its Critics: Philosophical,
Theological, and Scientific Perspectives. Edited by Robert Pennock (MIT
2001).
- Additional articles will be available on the class web site.
Office hours: Monday and Wednesday 1:00-1:50, and by appointment.
Web Resources: A class web site can be found at http://www.rudygarns.com/class.
We will also use NKU Blackboard courseware to post announcement and provide
additional resources.
Objectives for students: Students
who successfully complete this course should understand and be able to explain
cogently the main lines of thinking on both sides of the debates we discuss
in class (see the course Description above). Students should be familiar with
concepts central to, and the arguments for and against, Evolutionary Theory,
Creation Science, Naturalism (in a variety of forms), Intelligent Design
Creationism, and Theistic Evolution.
Course requirements: Your progress in
the class will be evaluated largely on the basis of a series of essays and
class performance. Anyone not meeting all the requirements will fail the
course.
Attendance. Chronic absenteeism will not be tolerated.
A necessary condition for getting an A in the course is that you attend 90%
of the classes. A necessary condition for getting an B in the course is that
you attend 80% of the classes. A C requires you attend at least 70% of the
classes, and to pass the course you must attend at least 60% of the time.
Attendance is not, of course, a sufficient condition for earning a particular
grade. Since attendance will be recorded at the beginning of class either
through a roll call or from quiz participation, I recommend that you arrive
at class on time; I am not responsible for recording your presence after roll
is called. There will be no excused absences.
Participation and Preparation. You are required to attend class,
participate responsibly, and prepare adequately for class. My evidence for
adequate participation in class is your behavior. Those who regularly ask
questions and take part in class discussions are clearly actively involved
in the class; and those who regularly attend class, listen attentively to
lectures and discussions, and complete assignments on time are also involved
in the class (though to a lesser degree). Failure to attend class or to complete
assignments, sleeping in class, talking to neighbors and other disruptive
behavior will count against you.
Online Essays. I'm requiring four (4) essays/projects from each
student, each submission roughly five pages in length and on a course-related
topic of your choice (I may assign a topic if I think it is necessary).
At least two of these must be essays that present critical discussions of
some topic or issue, incorporating material that we have been discussing. At
most two of your submissions could deviate from the typical essay format.
I'll accept a work of fiction or art, or an otherwise creative endeavor, provided
it is accompanied by an artist's statement and it can be submitted in a medium
that can be posted on the web (graphic, audio, video, program). The
final submission (essay or creative project) will serve as the basis for
a presentation to the class during the last weeks of the course.
All submissions must (1) fall within the topics covered in class, (2) demonstrate
an understanding of the material we are discussing, and (3) demonstrate an
effort that goes beyond class discussion and reading. Submissions will
be graded on bases of competence, carefulness, accuracy, relevance, and effort.
You are encouraged to rewrite any or all of your submissions (particularly
in light of peer and faculty comments) and the final portfolio of your work
will largely determine the final grade.
All submissions will be turned in electronically and posted on our class
web site for all to review and comment on. Peer comments are encouraged (expected)
and revisions will be accepted at any time and posted. Near the end
of the course each student will pick his or her two best submissions for consideration
and the class will vote electronically on the three best entries. These will
be featured in a final online class journal.
Grading: The final grade for the course should be understood as my
assessment of your overall level of achievement in the class based on all
the evidence available to me. The essays, comments on essays, and any grades
accumulated from homework and class participation will constitute the bulk
of that evidence. All assigned work is required work, unless I indicate otherwise.
This is not to say that all assigned work is graded work or work that will
contribute toward the final grade. I understand the particular letter grades
in terms of the descriptions given in the recent university catalog. A grade
of C "represents average achievement, the minimum expected of a college student."
Better or worse work is possible and will be reflected in the grade. Midterm
grades will be assigned, but please ask me if you have questions about your
standing in the class at any point in the semester.
Instructor's prerogative: I reserve the right to alter the conditions
stated in this syllabus at any time during the semester should such alterations
better facilitate meeting the goals. I will, in such a case, provide notice
in class. I may on occasion add or delete reading assignments. It is the student's
responsibility to be in class and get this information.
A few suggestions:
- Since much of what you can learn will come from discussions and lectures
in class, attendance is crucial. Participate in classroom discussions. Think
about the material before class and raise questions during class.
- Take advantage of my office hours if you are having the slightest
bit of trouble or if you want to discuss some of the issues beyond what the
class period allows. I am always willing to make appointments if my scheduled
hours are inconvenient.
- Coursework is due at class time. Assignments cannot be made up and
I will not accept them late.
- Cheating will not be tolerated. To be caught at cheating is to fail
the course. When taking an in-class exam, close all books, put away all notes,
and place all belongings under your desk; keep your eyes on your own work.
Plagiarism is also intolerable. If you are unsure whether a certain act constitutes
plagiarism, ask me before you commit the act.
- Common courtesy demands that you respect others in the classroom by
not speaking unless you have the floor, by listening when others have the
floor, and by arriving at class on time. Lack of common courtesy will be reflected
in the final grade.
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