Pages

Sunday, April 20, 2008

Redefining evolution

I haven't seen Expelled, but if there's one thing that's not going to convince me it's any good, it's statements such as these in its defense:
The movie is not, I repeat NOT, anti-evolution. Time and again those who want freedom of thought state over and over again that this is not about evolution as defined as variation within species.
Redefining evolution to mean variation within species is standard creationist blather. Evolution includes species evolving from other species, and it's just mendacious wordplay to say otherwise. So Glenn Reynolds is giving more credit to the Libertas commenters than they deserve. And also to Ed Morrisey, who engages in the same semantic sleight of hand:
I believe evolution is demonstrably proven in enough examples to say that its effect on variation in species cannot be denied.