I am ecstatic!

Earlier this evening I posted about the disappointment I felt when I heard what I perceived as my psychology professor cuddling up to creationists in an attempt to not offend them with his upcoming lecture on evolution. I emailed the professor to voice my concerns.

He replied! Here it is:

Hi OJ

It's reassuring after so many years of teaching this material to finally hear a student say what you said. Remember, however, that I have not actually taught the classes on evolution yet.....

I said what I said today for many reasons. It is important to me not to offend students unnecessarily. And, given that the issue is complex, contentious, and that we do not really have the time to go over all the evidence there is for evolution (which is a whole other course, as I think I mentioned) my intention was to justify restricting a debate I would not mind having at another time and place. If one is not going to let opponents defend their positions fully, one should offer them the courtesy of retaining their beliefs without their feeling attacked until such time as the material can be given the time and attention it deserves. Does that make sense?

Moreover, if I want to convince anyone of anything in my classes, first, I have to get them to listen. Stuffing things down someone's throat rarely wins the convert and, as I said in the Descartes lecture, there's only one thing that I am sure of with philosophical certainty. So, I am cautious about being, or even appearing, dogmatic.....which is so not scientific in my world view, to use the contemporary vernacular.

The point I was trying to make today was just to ensure those sensitive students that no one should feel bullied or threatened by the mistaken assumption the grade for my course was going to be affected by her or his acceptance (or feigned acceptance) or a particular position I presented in class....but they would need to understand my rationale for taking my position. I feel strongly that universities are the place where students and faculty challenge one another, as opposed to the place where students learn to say whatever it is the professor wants them to say in order to pass and exam or an assignment, So, they don't get the opportunity for lengthy debate and rebuttal, I do not demand conversion. I hope that seems reasonable.

Thanks for your input. It is refreshing and very pleasing to hear a pro-science voice once a decade or so.....