Intelligent Design: Should It Be Taught in Public Schools? Persuasive Essay by jpgaltmill

Intelligent Design: Should It Be Taught in Public Schools?
An analysis of the arguments for and against the inclusion of intelligent design in a public school science class curriculum.
# 153771 | 3,193 words | 12 sources | MLA | 2013 | US
Published on Dec 16, 2013 in Education (Curriculum) , Biology (General) , Hot Topics (General)


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Description:

The paper provides an in-depth examination of both the evolution and intelligent design arguments, and explores whether intelligent design should be included in a public school science curriculum. The paper questions if intelligent design is religion, if it is true, and if it is science. The paper argues that intelligent design is not a theory or science; it is at best an impotent criticism of evolution, and at worst, a disingenuous, politically-motivated media campaign created in order to undermine science out of a fear of losing religion. Therefore, the paper concludes that intelligent design should not be taught in publicly-funded science classes.

From the Paper:

"In 1925 a high school science teacher was brought to trial for teaching human evolution in a state-funded school. Later referred to as the Scopes Monkey Trial, and one of the most publicized court cases of that decade, John Scopes was found guilty in the Tennessee court and had to pay a $100 fine. In the 2005 case of Kitzmiller v. Dover, a Pennsylvania school board was brought to federal court for requiring teachers to offer Intelligent Design as an alternative theory to Evolution. The judge found the "new" theory of ID to be just another form of creationism, and, since itviolated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, it could not be taught in the biology class of a public school (Superfine 901).
"How did we come full-circle in eighty years? Have we gone too far? With hindsight, barring evolutionary theory from the classroom seems unjustifiable. Even if one disagrees with the theory, isn't it censorship to ban it out of hand? If this is true for Evolution, then why is it not also true for Intelligent Design?"

Sample of Sources Used:

  • Bible: New International Version. Deluxe Edition. New York: Zondervan, 2012. Print.
  • Coyne, George V. "Evolution and Intelligent Design. What is Science and What is Not." Revista Portuguesa de Filosofia, Vol. 66, No. 4, pp. 717-720, 2010. JSTOR. Web. 03 Dec. 2013.
  • Dawes, Gregory W. "What is Wrong with Intelligent Design?" International Journal for Philosophy of Religion. Vol. 61, No. 2, pp. 69-81, Apr., 2007. JSTOR. Web. 03 Dec. 2013.
  • Dawkins, Richard. The Ancestor's Tale. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004. Print.
  • Dembski, William. "Science and Design." First Things. Oct. 1, 1998. http://www.discovery.org/csc/essentialReadings.php Web.03 Dec. 2013.

Cite this Persuasive Essay:

APA Format

Intelligent Design: Should It Be Taught in Public Schools? (2013, December 16) Retrieved April 02, 2023, from https://www.academon.com/persuasive-essay/intelligent-design-should-it-be-taught-in-public-schools-153771/

MLA Format

"Intelligent Design: Should It Be Taught in Public Schools?" 16 December 2013. Web. 02 April. 2023. <https://www.academon.com/persuasive-essay/intelligent-design-should-it-be-taught-in-public-schools-153771/>

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