Science on Trial: The Case for Evolution

Customer Reviews:

Outstanding - Standing On The Shoulders of Giants.......2005-12-07

'Science on Trial' is exactly what "intelligent design" is forcing upon the public - but the public doesn't have the educational background to grasp it and creationism is an easy answer to grasp... too bad. Human is as human does.

Futuyma is clear and concise and almost as entertaining as Stephen J. Gould, Richard Dawkins or Desmond Morris (who are almost as entertaining as Mark Twain in "Letters From The Earth.").

This book should be in every public library in every republic in the world. Give Intelligence (not intelligent design) A Chance.

Futuyma's "Science on Trial" Doesn't Pass the 'Facts' Test.......2005-07-10

This 1995 Edition is similar to the 1983 version. A serious science researcher should not waste good money on this book - it cannot be considered a serious, reliable scientific reference. It is a great disappointment in scholarship, little more than a screedy, anti-Christian diatribe, railing against Creationists who dare think that Evolution is not good science. Particularly, his addressing of the Second Law of Thermodynamics is wide of the mark, just flat erroneous. Much of Futuyma's book is replete with combative language about Christians who embrace Creation. His inflammatory language only serves the notion that this book is not about science, but about philosophy. His scholarship about the Bible is particularly deficient.

One of the best "Creation Science" debunkers.......2005-01-24

Though a little outdated since the pseudo-scientists calling themselves "creation scientists" have long since gone to "intelligent design" since they clearly lost the previous debates. However Futuyma does an excellent job of showing the clash between two world views and why creationism should never be taught as science in the classroom. Simply because it isn't science.

One thing I enjoyed in the book was how the author showed that people who can acknowledge Darwin was right, can still live a moral, decent life in harmony with others. Darwinism was misused by many who focused on the "survival of the fittest" theme whereas Darwinism brings humans into the great biological family that is all life on our planet. Humanity is no longer a battle against nature, but is man as a part of nature with interdependencies and symbiotic relationships that should be embraced and celebrated.

The sad reality is, that the creation myths are so vital to Christian Fundamentalism and the idea that Jesus died to save us from Adam's fall, that true believers of Christianity will cling to these irrational beliefs regardless what the evidence tells them. Even so, giving into fundamentalism and rejecting science will bring us into the intellectual darkness you see in the middle east.

Futuyma was one of the first courageous souls to stand up and do battle with the fundamentalists on this battleground. Reason and science owe him a big debt for this book. I'm glad other scientists have stepped forward to defend the application of the scientific method against the forces promoting superstition.

I welcome feedback on this and all reviews at wstrnlibwarrior@yahoo.com

A well-written book.......2004-11-17

Futuyama does take on the Creationists on their own playing field. That is, he addresses their arguments that evolution fails to answer some questions that they have devised.

Creationist arguments sometimes include claims of the Earth being very young. The author shows that these are falsified by elementary geology. Matter of fact, some of them are falsified by elementary archaeology.

Another claim is that the second law of thermodynamics prevents order from arising naturally. Futuyama shows that's false. First the Earth is not a closed system: we get useful energy from the Sun, as well as from volcanic vents. In addition, has anyone making this claim ever seen a snowflake? It is easy for order to arise naturally. As a matter of fact, order tends to arise in a gravitational system as well, as anyone looking at our Solar System can observe. And an embryo becoming an adult shows an enormous increase in order.

One common claim is that life could not have originated "by chance." But, as Futuyama explains, this is suspect, given the compatability of the Earth with life, and given the presence of the ingredients. I agree. Sure, one can do a sloppy calculation, and say there is little chance for life to originate. But given that there is life here, the chances of that calculation being wrong are high. It's unreasonable to make an argument of the form, "I'm not smart enough to figure out exactly how life got here, therefore it never did get here."

There are also claims that mutation, recombination and natural selection can't form new features. In response, Futuyama shows how small changes have led to new features. And he also answers the question of how a new function, such as sight can develop so that each step confers a competitive advantage.

One favorite claim of creationists is the lack of intermediate fossils. But many of those intermediates actually have been discovered, as Futuyama ponts out.

But, of course, had Futuyama failed to answer these questions, that would not overthrow evolution, which is simply a set of facts. The key to accepting evolution is the positive evidence in its favor, which is so overwhelming that little if any argument needs to be made once one has these facts.

As Futuyama shows, that evidence includes fossil records, DNA, embryology, and homologies. And it is significant that these facts are consistent: as the author explains, a single undisputed Pre-Cambrian fossil of a flowering plant or mammal would falsify most of evolution as we understand it.

There is also a chapter on some of what bothers many Creationists, "social darwinism." This is a moral philosophy that attempts to justify unethical behavior on the grounds of natural selection. Futuyama points out that it is dubious to justify any ethical system on such grounds, and that the claims of the social darwinists are bogus. Again, I agree. I don't believe that ethical systems need to be based on the existence or non-existence of evolution. And they certainly do not need to be based on lies, nor should they be. We ought to know and teach the truth about evolution.

I think this is a valuable guide to evolution and the creationist attacks on it.

good science, bad philosophy.......2004-11-11

Futuyma's Science on Trial is really two books. One is a lucid, accessible, and convincing argument against so-called creation science. I don't think any reasonable person could come away unconvinced as to the fact of evolution.

Unfortunately there is another book in here too. Whenever Futuyma wanders off topic into biblical scholarship, theology, metaphysics, ethics, politics, or anything except science, he generally shows himself to be about as plug ignorant on those subjects as the creationists are about science. Expertise in biology does not automatically entitle you to hold forth in these other disciplines. Stick to the science and, please, a little humility.

One thing that particularly irritated me is that Futuyma rather airily dismisses the possibility that something could be at the same time undoubtedly true and yet undermining of the basis for any truly humane morality. I think that is dangerously naive. Futuyma needs to read his Nietzche and his Sophocles. As the former noted there can exist such a thing as a DESTRUCTIVE truth. Or as Oedipus states, "The truth is pain, for those who see." What the Greek tragedian suspected, we now know. Ironically, it is Futuyma here who is the totally uncritical follower of the Gospel of John. "The truth shall set you free." If only it were that simple.

Science on Trial. The Case for Evolution.

Average customer rating:

Science on Trial. The Case for Evolution.
Douglas J. FUTUYMA
Manufacturer: Pantheon Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000M4LDSC

Biohazard: 'intelligent design' poses threat to science education and church-state separation, say parents and experts at Pennsylvania trial. : An article from: Church & State

Average customer rating:

Biohazard: 'intelligent design' poses threat to science education and church-state separation, say parents and experts at Pennsylvania trial. : An article from: Church & State
Rob Boston
Manufacturer: Thomson Gale
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

General | Philosophy | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Church & State, published by Thomson Gale on November 1, 2005. The length of the article is 3169 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Biohazard: 'intelligent design' poses threat to science education and church-state separation, say parents and experts at Pennsylvania trial.
Author: Rob Boston
Publication: Church & State (Magazine/Journal)
Date: November 1, 2005
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 58 Issue: 10 Page: 4(4)

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Evolution On Trial.(Scopes Monkey Trial of 1925 on teaching of evolution): An article from: New York Times Upfront

Average customer rating:

Evolution On Trial.(Scopes Monkey Trial of 1925 on teaching of evolution): An article from: New York Times Upfront
Jack Beaudoin
Manufacturer: Scholastic, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

General | Evolution | Science | Subjects | Books

General | Science | Subjects | Books

Science & Technology | Subjects | e-Docs | Formats | Books

Book Description

This digital document is an article from New York Times Upfront, published by Scholastic, Inc. on October 4, 1999. The length of the article is 1206 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Evolution On Trial.(Scopes Monkey Trial of 1925 on teaching of evolution)
Author: Jack Beaudoin
Publication: New York Times Upfront (Magazine/Journal)
Date: October 4, 1999
Publisher: Scholastic, Inc.
Volume: 132 Issue: 3 Page: 21

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Average customer rating:

Science On Trial The Case For Evolution
Douglas J. Futuyma
Manufacturer: Pantheon Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000NVB1AO

Average customer rating:
Atlas of Virginia Flora: Pteridophytes Through Monocotyledons (Part 1)

Manufacturer: Virginia Botanical Associates
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000HVVHL8

Average customer rating:
Flora of Florida: Pteridophytes and Gymnosperms (Flora of Florida)
Richard P. Wunderlin , and Bruce F. Hansen
Manufacturer: University Press of Florida
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Reference | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
General | Biology | Biological Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
General | Botany | Biological Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
Ferns | Plants | Biological Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
General | Science | Subjects | Books
Botany | Biological Sciences | Professional Science | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
Look Inside Outdoors & Nature Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
ASIN: 0813018056

Average customer rating:
The biology and morphology of the pteridophytes
N. S Parihar
Manufacturer: Central Book Depot
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B0007B107O

Average customer rating:
CRYPTOGAMIC BOTANY : VOLUME ONE ALGAE AND FUNGI : VOLUME TWO BRYOPHYTES AND PTERIDOPHYTE.

Manufacturer: McGraw Hill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000HL8XJW

Average customer rating:
CRYPTOGAMIC BOTANY: VOL 1 ALGAE & FUNGI AND VOL 2 BRYOPHYTES & PTERIDOPHYTES.

Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000I5GWXG

Average customer rating:
Ferns of Jamaica: A guide to the Pteridophytes (Publication / British Museum)
George R Proctor
Manufacturer: British Museum (Natural History)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

General | Plants | Biological Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
General | Botany | Biological Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0565008951

Average customer rating:
Field Guide to the Ferns and Other Pteridophytes of Georgia
Lloyd H., Jr. Snyder , and James G. Bruce
Manufacturer: University of Georgia Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Plants | Biological Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
Ferns | By Plant | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Ferns for American Gardens

Manual of the Vascular Flora of the Carolinas

ASIN: 0820308471

Average customer rating:
Flora Generica de los Paramos: Guia Ilustrada de las Planatas Vasculares (Memoirs of The New York Botanical Garden, Volume 92)
Petr Sklenar , James L. Luteyn , Carmen Ulloa Ulloa , Peter M. Jorgensen , and Michael O. Dillon
Manufacturer: The New York Botanical Garden Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 0893274844

Product Description

Páramo is one of the richest high-elevation mountain ecosystems in the world with high biological diversity and endemism. This book provides keys, descriptions, distributions, and illustrations for the identification of the 127 families and 540 genera of vascular plants recognized in the páramo.

Flora of North America: North of Mexico Volume 2: Pteridophytes and Gymnosperms (Flora of North America: North of Mexico)

Average customer rating:

A variable book with some very good and other poor parts

Flora of North America: North of Mexico Volume 2: Pteridophytes and Gymnosperms (Flora of North America: North of Mexico)

Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Psychology & Counseling | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

Personality | Psychology & Counseling | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

General | Education & Training | Medicine | Subjects | Books

Taxonomic Classification | Biological Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books

jp-unknown1 | Specialty Stores | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Medicine | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Professional | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Reference | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Science | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0195082427

Book Description

In Volume 2, over 50 contributors exhaustively describe and classify the ferns, fern allies, and gymnosperms of North America. Covering over two dozen fern and half a dozen gymnosperm families, they survey fern species of both ecological and horticultural importance and review such gymnosperm taxa as the conifers--the dominant trees in many forests as well as important timber plants--and cycads, which display significant evolutionary features. In all, the volume assembles 509 species of ferns and fern allies and infraspecific taxa in 70 genera. The editors have revised nearly 80 of these taxa to reflect classification changes since publication of the last standard work on ferns in North America. The gymnosperm treatments encompass 118 species in 22 genera. Identification keys, summaries of habitats and geographic ranges, pertinent synonymies, descriptions, chromosome numbers, and all other significant details are provided. More than 600 distribution maps and 65 illustration plates appear throughout.

Customer Reviews:

A variable book with some very good and other poor parts.......1998-11-20

This review is only about the conifers section of the Flora. Coverage of the conifers is complete for North American species, with a few naturalised exotics as well, but by no means all of these, e.g. Pinus halepensis naturalised in California is not in. The classification follows the most recent evidence, including the submergence of Taxodiaceae in Cupressaceae for which acceptance is becoming wider. Each genus has been authored separately, and inevitably the content varies according to the author. Some are very good, while others, notably Pinus, are much poorer.

Abies, compiled by R S Hunt, a long-time authority on silver firs, is the only genus in which readers might find any unfamiliar names. Hunt has found distinct differences between coastal and inland populations of Abies lasiocarpa, and separates the inland ones as a distinct species Abies bifolia. Also split off is the Sierra Nevada White Fir, usually treated as a variety of the Colorado White Fir but here a species Abies lowiana. He demonstrates good grounds for treating them as more than varieties; in other parts of the world they might have been treated as subspecies, but this rank appears to have been actively discouraged by the editors of the Flora.

Tsuga and Picea are both by R J Taylor, who like Hunt is an acknowledged authority on his genera, and both are covered well. Inevitably, there are a few small errors in some of the measurements: Picea sitchensis is given a maximum height of 80m, though it is known to grow to 96m, while Picea engelmannii is given 60m, though the tallest I can find published data for is 55m.

Pinus receives the poorest treatment of any of the genera. It is by R Kral, an unfamiliar name in conifer taxonomic circles who has no work cited in Farjon's 1990 Bibliography of Conifers. Kral corsorily dismisses or does not even mention several well-founded taxa, notably among the pinyons. He also does not appear to understand the tenet in the International Code for Botanical Nomenclature that subspecies is a higher rank than variety, as he gives the large differences in Pinus contorta recognition only at varietal rank, while giving the very small differences between the two populations of Pinus torreyana subspecies rank. Had this genus been covered by almost any other American pine specialist - e.g. Lanner, Malusa or Haller - a much better account would have resulted

Distribution maps are given for all species, but are very small and not too clear for species with small ranges like Cupressus macrocarpa; for these, just the state or province where it occurs should have been shown, not the whole continent.

Keys are given for all genera with more than two taxa. Like the texts they vary, some are easy to use with that for Picea the best among the larger genera. The key for Pinus includes (lead 28) the inexcusable cop-out "pines of eastern North America / pines of Western North America". This makes it unusable not only for anyone dealing with cultivated or naturalised plants, but also anywhere where trees might possibly be planted or naturalised - thus including all managed forests, in effect all trees outside of National Parks and nature reserves and perhaps even some in these. Some of the keys also seem to assume that you carry a powerful microscope and portable laboratory wherever you go, citing differences in resin canal position or pollen size, though these are usually only as supplementary features.

The editing and proof-reading has been done well, and it is refreshing to see an American text using international metric measurements, not archaic feet and inches. It is also very pleasantly free of misprints and other such errors. The only one I found is the vernacular name for Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris), mis-spelled 'Scotch', thereby making it a whisky, not a tree!

Average customer rating:
Flora of Thaialnd, Volume 3, Part 2: Pteridophytes.
Eds. TEM and KAI LARSEN: SMITINAND
Manufacturer: Phonphan Printing Co.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000VLXLA4

Book Description

Top out at 14,264 feet on the highest paved road in the country, see the view that inspired "America the Beautiful," sample green chile with politicians and construction workers, hike through wildflowers and aspen groves to a lake in the Rockies or saddle up for a cattle drive at a working ranch—Fodor's Colorado, 7th edition offers all these experiences and more! Our local writers have traveled throughout the state to find the best hotels, restaurants, attractions and activities to prepare you for a journey of stunning variety. Before you leave for your trip be sure to pack your Fodor's guide to ensure you don't miss a thing.

The San Francisco Chronicle sums it up best —"Fodor's guides are saturated with information."

- We frequently update our Colorado guide, and we make every effort to bring you the most accurate and thorough book. Plus we provide timely updates about the area to Fodors.com.
- Unlike other travel books, Fodor's guides rely heavily on local experts who know the territory best—so you know you're seeing the real Colorado.
- We give you the planning tools you need to tailor your trip. We give options for all budgets. You make the choices.

-----------------------------------
With Fodor’s you get much more than a guidebook–we make it easy for you to customize your dream vacation.

Visit www.fodors.com to find up-to-date travel bargains, mini-guides to worldwide destinations, information on local festivals, dazzling drives, maps, vacation planning tips and much more!

And, for more insider secrets, visit “Travel Talk” and “Rants and Raves” online at www.fodors.com/forums to get advice from other travelers like you.

Customer Reviews:

Better then average...........2003-11-27

I guess its a very typical premise. Bad Boy/Good Girl get together and have turbulent relationship.

I've only read to volume 9(And that's only because I can't buy them all at once!). As of today that's what I've read to. And I've loved Mars, its not only addictive, but its worth being addicted to!!

A lot of the characters do start out stereotypically, but I think they really break from those stereotypes with a lot of character development. I really understand where Kira is coming from. Maybe that person thinks she's damsle-distressy. And maybe she is, but some people are like that. Or wish they were(Despite all the feminime crap that we shouldn't be like that and are'nt like that stuff.). I mean I've been through some stuff similar to Kira. And well I guess unless you've been through it you may not think her actions are realistic or whatever. But I really saw a lot me in her.

Whether or not its a pretty overused story-line, I think Mars is a *great* Manga. The characters(Like Harumi, I thought she seemed all B**** at first, and she'd be the typical girl you love to hate, but she ends up being really nice and one of my fav characters. :D) to me are quite intrueging(And no, I'm not a sheltered little kid, I, in fact make studying people my hobby. :D). And I'm always wondering what will happen next, I figure they'll probrably end up together in the end, but maybe they wont. Either way I'm more concerned with what happens along the way.

So I say you should give Mars a shot, if you've never read manga before its great place to start!! Its made me think a lot about myself, and make me try to get over some things in the past. So it can't be all bad. :D

Well, also, its not for everyone because there is quite a bit of vulgarity, violence, and sexuality. So beware, but *enjoy*.! :)

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books