In a world that is being ripped apart by polarized views and fake news, scientific discourse might be the last bastion of constructive disagreement based on respect for objective knowledge. But even this is being tested, as the response to Holly Dunsworth's recent TVOL article titled It is Unethical to Teach Evolution Without Confronting Racism and Sexism attests. Some praise her ethical sensibilities, while others accuse her of being a leftist authoritarian. In this interview, Holly and I take a deep dive into the issues and stress the need to avoid excesses on both sides of the debate. The most important ground to defend is the middle ground.
Links referred to in the interview:
Jonathan Marks: Why Be Against Darwin? Creationism, Racism, and the Roots of Anthropology
Jerry Coyne: Evolutionist Coopts the Field for Social Justice
Bernard Crespi: Human Origins: Lessons from Autism Spectrum Disorders
Of related interest:
David Sloan Wilson and Lynette Shaw: Saving Social Constructionism
TVOL Special Edition: Truth and Reconciliation for Social Darwinism
TVOL Special Edition: What's Right (and Wrong) About Evolutionary Psychology
