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Evolution Medicine Science

Oh the shame!

I’ve lamented numerous times (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) about the sometimes painful ignorance of biology and evolutionary theory that’s all too common among my fellow physicians, an ignorance that leads to truly embarrassing forays into the “debate” over the pseudoscience of “intelligent design” versus the real science of evolution, an example of which includes the Physicians and Surgeons for Scientific Integrity‘s idiotic petition expressing “skepticism” about evolution.

Here we go again. This time, I learn of a pro-“intelligent design” book for children written by….a physician!


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Note the author: Geoffrey Simmons, M.D., who is now a Senior Fellow at the Discovery Institute. Note how Dembski‘s sycophants faun over it.

Oh, the shame, the shame for my profession! It looks as though it’s chock full of easily debunked ID canards, just like the last book he wrote, What Darwin Didn’t Know: A Doctor Dissects the Theory of Evolution.

I mean, get a load of this crap:

Dr. Geoffrey Simmons focuses on the millions of structures and systems on the Earth that came about all at once, entire…with no preceding links, no subsequent links, no “sideways” links.

To illustrate, he surveys examples like…

the hummingbird and its circulatory system
insects and insect-eating plants
the role of the thousands of species of viruses
chemical signals and the sensory apparatus that detects them
the self-regulating capacity of the Earth’s ocean/air/soil system

It’s clear: Nature contains only leaps, not links. Only the intelligence and purpose of an all-powerful Designer can explain the intricate creatures, connections, and “coincidences” everywhere.

Excellent for students and parents, especially homeschoolers, and for educators who want to present the “full picture.”

Of course they market this crap to homeschoolers. Any school worth half a glance wouldn’t even consider this tripe. Of course, none of these examples cast doubt upon evolutionary theory. Also, Dr. Simmons is well known for spewing easily debunked IDiocy.

Once again I must hang my head in shame over the proud ignorance of a fellow physician.

By Orac

Orac is the nom de blog of a humble surgeon/scientist who has an ego just big enough to delude himself that someone, somewhere might actually give a rodent's posterior about his copious verbal meanderings, but just barely small enough to admit to himself that few probably will. That surgeon is otherwise known as David Gorski.

That this particular surgeon has chosen his nom de blog based on a rather cranky and arrogant computer shaped like a clear box of blinking lights that he originally encountered when he became a fan of a 35 year old British SF television show whose special effects were renowned for their BBC/Doctor Who-style low budget look, but whose stories nonetheless resulted in some of the best, most innovative science fiction ever televised, should tell you nearly all that you need to know about Orac. (That, and the length of the preceding sentence.)

DISCLAIMER:: The various written meanderings here are the opinions of Orac and Orac alone, written on his own time. They should never be construed as representing the opinions of any other person or entity, especially Orac's cancer center, department of surgery, medical school, or university. Also note that Orac is nonpartisan; he is more than willing to criticize the statements of anyone, regardless of of political leanings, if that anyone advocates pseudoscience or quackery. Finally, medical commentary is not to be construed in any way as medical advice.

To contact Orac: [email protected]

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