The Justice Department opened an investigation because Michael L. Dini, an associate professor of biology at Texas Tech University, insists on the following (from here) from anyone requesting a letter of recommendation to graduate school or medical school:
Criterion 3
If you set up an appointment to discuss the writing of a letter of recommendation, I will ask you: "How do you account for the scientific origin of the human species?" If you will not give a scientific answer to this question, then you should not seek my recommendation.
Why do I ask this question? Let’s consider the situation of one wishing to enter medical school. Whereas medicine is historically rooted first in the practice of magic and later in religion, modern medicine is an endeavor that springs from the sciences, biology prominent among these. The central, unifying principle of biology is the theory of evolution, which includes both micro- and macro-evolution, and which extends to ALL species. Someone who ignores the most important theory in biology cannot expect to properly practice in a field that is now so heavily based on biology. It is easy to imagine how physicians who ignore or neglect the Darwinian aspects of medicine or the evolutionary origin of humans can make poor clinical decisions. The current crisis in antibiotic resistance may partly be the result of such decisions. For others, please read the citations below.
Good medicine, like good biology, is based on the collection and evaluation of physical evidence. So much physical evidence supports the evolution of humans from non-human ancestors that one can validly refer to the "fact" of human evolution, even if all of the details are not yet known; just as one can refer to the "fact" of gravity, even if all of the details of gravitational theory are not yet known. One can ignore this evidence only at the risk of calling into question one’s understanding of science and the scientific method. Scientists do not ignore logical conclusions based on abundant scientific evidence and experimentation because these conclusions do not conform to expectations or beliefs. Modern medicine relies heavily on the method of science. In my opinion, modern physicians do best when their practice is scientifically based.
3 comments:
Elaborate please?
Sigh. This shouldn't be necessary.
1.) Evolution is scientific fact, just as much as gravity.
2.) Anyone who denies evolution is either woefully uneducated, or highly unreasonable.
3.) A teacher should be able to choose his own standards for recommending students for continuing education. Students have no "right" to a personal letter of recommendation. His recommendations are as much a reflection on him as on his students.
4.) A very reasonable standard is that the student must not be woefully uneducated or highly unreasonable.
5.) That the justice department would open an investigate is pathetic.
6.) One of the few things that I'll use the word "hate" for is when blind faith puports to challenge reason. I hate it. It is alarming to me that it happens so frequently in this country.
i should have predicted your response but it was pleasantly surprising. well put.
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