Comments on: Copyright and the Evolution Wars http://wendy.seltzer.org/blog/archives/2005/10/27/copyright_and_the_evolution_wars.html Musings of a techie lawyer Thu, 23 May 2013 10:19:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7-bleeding By: Pinky http://wendy.seltzer.org/blog/archives/2005/10/27/copyright_and_the_evolution_wars.html#comment-410 Pinky Wed, 09 Nov 2005 22:06:23 +0000 http://wendy.seltzer.org/wordpress/?p=291#comment-410 The heavy-handed move here was the redefinition of "science" by the Kansas State School Board as not limited to the search for natural explanations of phenomena. That and the admission of "theories" into this "science" that are not capable of falsification. The pre-Kansas School Board understanding has been the essence of science as method since the time of Aristotle, who died in 322 BC. This kind of status and precedent, older than Christianity itself, does not overthrow by redefinition from the modern home of the Land of Oz. It appears to me that the NAS and NTAS were simply serving notice that they could not be co-opted into an appearance of association by allowing their published standards to appear in apparent collaboration with a now world-wide and notorious science-bashing group. If copyright rights are the only legal means for effecting dissociation, then so be it. I can't see how dissociation wins any battle of ideas in any case. The heavy-handed move here was the redefinition of “science” by the Kansas State School Board as not limited to the search for natural explanations of phenomena. That and the admission of “theories” into this “science” that are not capable of falsification.

The pre-Kansas School Board understanding has been the essence of science as method since the time of Aristotle, who died in 322 BC. This kind of status and precedent, older than Christianity itself, does not overthrow by redefinition from the modern home of the Land of Oz.

It appears to me that the NAS and NTAS were simply serving notice that they could not be co-opted into an appearance of association by allowing their published standards to appear in apparent collaboration with a now world-wide and notorious science-bashing group. If copyright rights are the only legal means for effecting dissociation, then so be it. I can’t see how dissociation wins any battle of ideas in any case.

]]> By: Christos http://wendy.seltzer.org/blog/archives/2005/10/27/copyright_and_the_evolution_wars.html#comment-409 Christos Wed, 09 Nov 2005 15:19:10 +0000 http://wendy.seltzer.org/wordpress/?p=291#comment-409 Is this really about quotation? I thought that NAS was going to provide complete sections which were to be included in the standards and now they are simply retracting them. The board is free to quote from the NAS if they want to, but they will have to do a major rewrite. What had happened, if I understand correctly, was that NAS sent them some text, and then they modified it (by say, changing the definition of science in the text) - since NAS did not approve of those changes they withdrew their permission. Is this really about quotation? I thought that NAS was going to provide complete sections which were to be included in the standards and now they are simply retracting them. The board is free to quote from the NAS if they want to, but they will have to do a major rewrite.

What had happened, if I understand correctly, was that NAS sent them some text, and then they modified it (by say, changing the definition of science in the text) - since NAS did not approve of those changes they withdrew their permission.

]]> By: Kelly http://wendy.seltzer.org/blog/archives/2005/10/27/copyright_and_the_evolution_wars.html#comment-408 Kelly Fri, 28 Oct 2005 15:55:28 +0000 http://wendy.seltzer.org/wordpress/?p=291#comment-408 You have a very good point. Scientists should be sponsoring the free marketplace of ideas, not stifling it. Check out my URL for another take on ID. You have a very good point. Scientists should be sponsoring the free marketplace of ideas, not stifling it. Check out my URL for another take on ID.

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