Re: [Phys-l] Is evolution something to believe in?

[Rick Tarara <rtarara@saintmarys.edu>]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Robert Cohen" <Robert.Cohen@po-box.esu.edu>
> As mentioned before, many people believe evolution based upon the
> reputation of the scientific community, not because of the evidence.
> Destroy that reputation and you weaken the belief.  One needn't argue
> that there is a scientific alternative -- all you need to do is question
> the reputation of the scientific community responsible for the theory.
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------

But we tend to do the very same thing within the scientific community.  When 
scientists question human induced global warming, the first (knee-jerk) 
response from the 'mainstream' community is to attack the credentials and/or 
the motivations of the critics.  A good example is the mailing most of us 
got a few months back.  I searched online to find refutations for the 
evidence presented in that paper (Environmental Effects of Increased 
Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide, Arthur B. Robinson et.al.) , and instead found, 
over and over again, attacks on the authors' credentials.  There are some 
data presented showing that trends now cited as proof of (human induced) 
warming, started well before any significant human contribution to 
greenhouse gasses.  While there may be something posted that deals with 
this, I can't find it amidst all the character assassinations!   ;-(

Rick

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Richard W. Tarara
Professor of Physics
Saint Mary's College
Notre Dame, IN
rtarara@saintmarys.edu
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