Letter: Real studies, or philosophy?

Sunday, Nov. 20, 2005 | 7:56 a.m.

Public debate is good but it appears to me, anecdotally, that those readers who take either a conservative or religious position often speak in generalities and/or fail to divulge all the facts. Specifically, I am referring to the Nov. 16 letter to the editor in the Sun from Raymond LeBoeuf, vice principal of Mountain View Christian Schools, about the intelligent design "debate." Mr. LeBoeuf seems to be a supporter of teaching intelligent design in the classroom.

Mr. LeBoeuf mentions three "studies" that support his position. I put the quotation marks around the word "studies" because, in my opinion, these are hardly real scientific studies by real scientists.

The co-authors of "Darwinism, Design and Public Education" are John Angus Campbell and Stephen C. Meyer. Dr. Angus has a Ph.D. in rhetoric and Dr. Meyer has a Ph.D. in the history and philosophy of science (he also has undergraduate degrees in physics and geology). Apparently this is either an opinion piece or a philosophical argument rather than a scientific "study."

"Mere Creation" is by Dr. William A. Dembski. The doctorates are in philosophy and mathematics -- although he is also a master of divinity. Not exactly the credentials I would expect from an author of a scientific work of this type. Perhaps a comparative biologist might be more convincing.

The third reference actually does come from a scientist: "Darwin's Black Box" by Dr. Michael Behe, professor of biochemistry. But even he admits, in his own article, "Darwin Under the Microscope," that he holds a "distinctly minority view among scientists."

If Mr. LeBoeuf had mentioned the full nature of his sources, perhaps the readers of his letter would come to a conclusion other than what he had intended. If we are having a public debate then feel free to declare your opinion, hopefully supported by actual facts, but don't just parrot the opinion of others with credentials that are suspect.

Bob Litt Las Vegas