tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10584495.post115774496884902610..comments2024-03-27T15:34:14.749-07:00Comments on dangerous idea: The Francis Beckwith StoryVictor Repperthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10962948073162156902noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10584495.post-1157937779485205202006-09-10T18:22:00.000-07:002006-09-10T18:22:00.000-07:00Ryan asked what I thought was ineresting on Leiter...Ryan asked what I thought was ineresting on Leiter's post. Here's one interesting argument:<BR/><I>[T]his already concedes too much, for surely it is sheer madness to suggest that any view defended in a peer-refereed science publication should be represented in a textbook for schoolchildren!<BR/><BR/>Absolutely: assign that peer-refereed article in a class for graduate students. But a textbook for schoolchildren ought to reflect the best, current understanding of its subject-matter, as determined by the consensus among experts.</I>Blue Devil Knighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12045468316613818510noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10584495.post-1157930865199478642006-09-10T16:27:00.000-07:002006-09-10T16:27:00.000-07:00Ryan said:If anything, it would have to do with hi...Ryan said:<BR/><I>If anything, it would have to do with his politics, not his specifically Christian beliefs.</I><BR/><BR/>From the original article:<BR/><I>He was accused of disregarding the curriculum and using the classroom to spread his Christian views — a charge he denies. </I><BR/><BR/>At any rate, I was forestalling such interpretations, which are all too easy to make, and which I have seen people make regarding this case. This topic has been a subject of discussion on this blog, which you may have missed.<BR/><BR/>As for the Leiter thing, I was paraphrasing his article. If you had read it and understood it, you would have seen that. <BR/><BR/>Jerk that knee!Blue Devil Knighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12045468316613818510noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10584495.post-1157819772647053412006-09-09T09:36:00.000-07:002006-09-09T09:36:00.000-07:00Political factors influencing a tenure decision? W...Political factors influencing a tenure decision? Well, I never!<BR/><BR/>I am kidding.<BR/><BR/>I know some Christians love to play the role of the poor persecuted Galileo fighting the naturalistic priesthood, but it isn't clear from the article what happened. This article reads like page six (OH, and by the way, did you HEAR that so-and-so resigned, and he may have PLAGIARIZED?): I'll wait for more details from both sides before judging things. <BR/><BR/>Departmental politics almost always play some role in tenure decisions. I have heard some awful stories from people denied tenure (e.g., one tenure committe asked a positive outside reviewer to retract their review). For all we know, it isn't the guy's Christianity that got him smoked. Assuming it was politics, he may just be an insufferable ass, who does passable work (the fact that it is Christian in focus isn't important). Also, don't forget a committee can deny you tenure even if they simply don't like your work, of if they don't like the direction your work will take the department in the future (giving tenure is a huge committment).<BR/><BR/>Brian Leiter, for what its worth, <A HREF="http://webapp.utexas.edu/blogs/archives/bleiter/000167.html" REL="nofollow">tore into Beckwith</A> a few years back. He paints Beckwith as another Discovery Institute hack, and also makes some interesting points.Blue Devil Knighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12045468316613818510noreply@blogger.com