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University of California Press

Evolution vs. Creationism

An Introduction
by Eugenie C. Scott (Author)
Paperback
Price: $29.95 / £25.00
Publication Date: Aug 2009
Edition: 2nd Edition
Title Details:
Rights: World
Pages: 384
ISBN: 9780520261877
Trim Size: 7 x 10
Illustrations: 26 line illustrations, 7 tables
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About the Book

More than eighty years after the Scopes trial, the debate over teaching evolution continues in spite of the emptiness of the creationist positions. This accessible resource, now completely revised and updated, provides an essential introduction to the ongoing dispute’s many facets—the scientific evidence for evolution, the legal and educational basis for its teaching, and the various religious points of view—as well as a concise history of the evolution-creationism controversy. This second edition also contains a discussion of the legal history, updated to include the seminal case of Kitzmiller v. Dover as well as a new chapter on public opinion and media coverage.

About the Author

Eugenie C. Scott is Executive Director of the National Center for Science Education. She has written extensively on the evolution-creationism controversy and is past president of the American Association of Physical Anthropologists. Scott is the 2010 recipient of the National Academy of Science's Public Welfare Medal.

Table of Contents

FOREWORD:The Unmetabolized Darwin by Niles Eldredge
FOREWORD TO THE SECOND EDITION by Judge John E. Jones III
PREFACE
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
INTRODUCTION: The Pillars of Creationism

PART I: Science, Evolution, Religion, and Creationism
CHAPTER 1. Science: Truth without Certainty
CHAPTER 2. Evolution
CHAPTER 3. Beliefs: Religion, Creationism, and Naturalism

PART II: A History of the Creationism/Evolution Controversy
CHAPTER 4. Before Darwin to the Twentieth Century
CHAPTER 5. Eliminating Evolution, Inventing Creation Science
CHAPTER 6. Neocreationism
CHAPTER 7. Testing Intelligent Design and Evidence against Evolution in
the Courts

PART III: Selections from the Literature
CHAPTER 8. Cosmology, Astronomy, Geology
CHAPTER 9. Patterns and Processes of Biological Evolution
CHAPTER 10. Legal Issues
CHAPTER 11. Educational Issues
CHAPTER 12. Issues Concerning Religion
CHAPTER 13. The Nature of Science
CHAPTER 14. Evolution and Creationism in the Media and Public Opinion

REFERENCES FOR FURTHER EXPLORATION
NAME INDEX
SUBJECT INDEX

Reviews

"Several excellent books have been published in recent years about creationism, particularly intelligent design, and the presumed conflict between evolution and religious beliefs. Evolution vs. Creationism is one of the best."
— Hist & Phil Of Life Sci
"This is the first book that I have read that explained how it could have come about that, in the twentieth century, it was possible for a generation of poorly-educated people to seriously disadvantage their children and grandchildren by intentionally depriving them of access to the best available information."
— Bio Journal Of The Linnean Society
“An extraordinary book, and one I predict is destined to become a classic . . . I recommend the book highly as a text or supplement book for nature of science, science and society, or high school science methods courses.”
— Journal Science Education
“Eugenie C. Scott’s book is an essential resource for teachers, college faculty, and students (high school level and up).”
— American Paleontologist
“For a deeply thoughtful analysis of the status of evolution science and the place of ‘creationism,’ every teacher should read Eugenie Scott’s Evolution vs. Creationism. . . Scott provides point-by-point rebuttals of many of the most common arguments raised by creationists and advocates of intelligent design with sound science and many references.”
— Science Teacher
“Many libraries my not own creationist books or journals, so this new title is an excellent way to provide access to that literature while keeping it in a scientific, scholarly context. This is very much an introductory work, and advanced researchers will not find much new material here. Summing up: Highly recommended.”
— Choice: Current Reviews For Academic Libraries
“Scott could be said to be the one really doing God's work as she patiently rebuts people who make most other scientists spit gaskets like short-circuiting robots. Her book is both a straightforward history of the debate and an anthology of essays written by partisans on each side. Its main virtue is to explain the scientific method, which many invoke but few describe vividly. Scott also manages to lay out the astronomical, chemical, geological and biological bases of evolutionary theory in unusually plain English. Anyone who wants to defend evolution at his next church picnic should arm himself with this book.”
— New York Times Book Review
“This book by the executive director of the U.S. National Center for Science Education is a comprehensive overview of the issues involved, scientific and religious, as well as history of the controversy the Scopes trial didn’t resolve.”
— Toronto Globe & Mail