Niall Shanks vs. William Dembski

I mentioned my late former colleague Niall Shanks in A&P class today. Here's a clip from his 2004 debate with William Dembski, who wrote the paper I also mentioned today on "How to Debate an Atheist-If You Must."

Shanks was brilliant and funny, a strong debater and a good companion over an "ale" or two. His book God, the Devil, and Darwin is terrific. I just wish he'd taken better care of his health.

scientists don't give a hoot for philosophy

I like Niall Shanks's abrupt clarity about the regard philosophers are given by scientists ("most scientists in my experience— exceptions duly noted—couldn't give a hoot for philosophy anyway") and why scientific (as distinct from philosophical) naturalism is a matter less of ideology than of experience and method. I'd really like to read his next book. But someone else is going to have to write it.

creationists know not what they do

Thinking about departed friend and colleague Niall Shanks today, and looking into his excellent God, the devil, & Darwin. Richard Dawkins wrote the foreword.

In Blind Watchmaker Dawkins notes something Shanks came to understand, though he didn't really get it yet back when he and I taught together at East Tennessee State University in the early '90s: creationists in our classrooms often mean well, but are simply uninformed about evolution. They know not what they do. Forgive them, teachers. Educate them.