Monday, June 04, 2007

Peer review

If you go take a survey of the experts in this field, though -- the men and women who track this stuff as part of their professional duties -- you will find that your (and Steve's) suggestions here would be completely dismissed. If you don't believe me, maybe we can randomly identify a dozen universities and see what kind of verdict this post gets from those who will respond to email requests for review.

I've done this before, and have been surprised to see how many professors and faculty members will take time to respond in detail to requests like this. Let me know. I think it would be interesting to see what the experts in this field make of your analysis here....

-Touchstone

Gee, T-stone, that’s mighty generous of you. Let’s see if I can reciprocate with an equally magnanimous offer.

Why don’t you post a link to your scientific model of theistic evolution. Then I’ll game my connections with Jeff Lowder over at the secular web to have some experts in the field look it over, viz. Richard Dawkins, Dan Dennett, Tanner Edis, Doug Futuyma, Phil Kitcher, Paul Kurtz, P. Z. Myers, William Provine, Michael Shermer, Quentin Smith, Victor Stenger, and Steven Weinberg.

11 comments:

  1. The issue of peer review comes up a lot in the debate over ID. But this seems problematic for a few reasons:

    1. It seems to me that it's like asking dogs to peer review a favorable report on cats. Demanding a peer review doesn't fix the problem that much of the scientific community has a tendentious view of ID to begin with.

    2. It kind of reminds me of the situation in early communist Russia where you couldn't get a job unless you belonged to a union, but you couldn't get in the union unless you had a job. In the same way, the scientific community doesn't take ID seriously because it has no peer review*, but no one will peer review it because they don't take it seriously.




    *although I do think one of Dembski's books was peer reviewed

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  2. What does any of this have to do with the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Satan must be laughing about now!

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  3. Yes, he's laughing at boneheaded anonymous interlocuters....

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  4. What does any of this have to do with the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Satan must be laughing about now!

    One similarity lies in the fact that Touchstone could have God himself tell him theistic evolution is a position born out of compromise, but Touchstone wouldn't buy it. On the other hand, if Joseph Smith told him the same, Touchstone might at least consider the possibility.

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  5. What does Lord Jesus have to do with any of this high-tech year 2070 mumbo jumbo?

    I am blessed with an effortless faith, and don't need to worry about this science fiction bullcrap.

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  6. Haha, that must be why you read this blog, Betty.

    This statement reminds me of an evolutionist w/ whom I was in an extended email discussion recently. He tried to get me to wager a couple thousand dollars that my ideas about evolution would not be accepted by university professors. I mean, I'm no expert on evolution, but that's silly stuff. Touchstone sounds all high-falootin' but his feet are made of clay.

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  7. hostus twinkius said...
    "Yes, he's laughing at boneheaded anonymous interlocuters...."

    Yeah,

    I like to take part in various dialogue and remain anonymous, "hostess twinkie".

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  8. Anonymous,

    That's my latin name. I don't care if you comment anonymously, I just prefer you don't comment STUPIDLY. Feel free to say something intelligent though...

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  9. Betty, I understand your point. I, too, am blessed with an effortless faith.

    the kind that just makes me feel so loved and saved.

    I KNOW I'm saved!

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  10. hostus twinkius said...

    "Anonymous,

    That's my latin name. I don't care if you comment anonymously, I just prefer you don't comment STUPIDLY. Feel free to say something intelligent though..."

    hostess twinkie, I guess you are the arbiter of what's stupid or not?

    You sound like one of the enlightened ones on the left.

    Thank God for free speech.

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  11. Anonymous,

    If you care to assert that this:

    "What does any of this have to do with the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Satan must be laughing about now!"

    was an intelligent (or even sincere) statement on a post about ID and peer review, please lay out your case. I'm listening. By all means, exercise your inalienable right to free speech...

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