April 21, 2004 at 7:00 pm
Can scientific explanations restricted solely to material entities speak meaningfully about issues often deemed to have spiritual content, such as the role of willful action in nature?
Leading UCLA neuroscientist and author Dr. Jeffrey Schwartz debates science critic Dr. Michael Shermer, founding Publisher of Skeptic magazine, Director of the Skeptic Society, and monthly columnist for Scientific American. Drawing upon decades of research, Dr. Schwartz corroborates contemporary neuroscience with the teachings of faith to challenge the materialist assumptions present in scientific inquiry.
The second debate will be philosopher and intelligent design critic Niall Shanks debating philosopher, mathematician, and intelligent design proponent William Dembski over whether or not intelligent design is detectable in biology:
Could intelligent design in biological systems be scientifically detectable, and has it in fact been detected in nature?
As the leading proponent of intelligent design theory, mathematician and philosopher Dr. William Dembski (author of The Design Inference, Cambridge UP, 1998 and sequel No Free Lunch: Why Specified Complexity Cannot Be purchased without Intelligence, Rowman & Littlefield, 2002) volleys the question of creation deep into the realm of scientific controversy. Responding, the Center for Inquiry enlists Professor of Philosophy, Physics, and Biology Dr. Niall Shanks, whose recent book God, the Devil, and Darwin: A Critique of Intelligent Design Theory (Oxford UP, 2004) places him at the forefront of an escalating debate spanning the sciences, philosophy, and theology.
Both debates will be moderated by Dallas Willard. Co-sponsors include: The Center for Inquiry International, The Skeptic Society and Skeptic magazine, and The IDEA Center.
This event will be 2 debates sponsored on intelligent design, sponsored by the Veritas Forum at UCLA: The first debate will be Skeptic Magazine founder Michael Shermer vs. UCLA Neurobiologist Jeffrey Schwartz debating whether or not science is limited to materialistic explanations:
Can scientific explanations restricted solely to material entities speak meaningfully about issues often deemed to have spiritual content, such as the role of willful action in nature?
Leading UCLA neuroscientist and author Dr. Jeffrey Schwartz debates science critic Dr. Michael Shermer, founding Publisher of Skeptic magazine, Director of the Skeptic Society, and monthly columnist for Scientific American. Drawing upon decades of research, Dr. Schwartz corroborates contemporary neuroscience with the teachings of faith to challenge the materialist assumptions present in scientific inquiry.
The second debate will be philosopher and intelligent design critic Niall Shanks debating philosopher, mathematician, and intelligent design proponent William Dembski over whether or not intelligent design is detectable in biology:
Could intelligent design in biological systems be scientifically detectable, and has it in fact been detected in nature?
As the leading proponent of intelligent design theory, mathematician and philosopher Dr. William Dembski (author of The Design Inference, Cambridge UP, 1998 and sequel No Free Lunch: Why Specified Complexity Cannot Be purchased without Intelligence, Rowman & Littlefield, 2002) volleys the question of creation deep into the realm of scientific controversy. Responding, the Center for Inquiry enlists Professor of Philosophy, Physics, and Biology Dr. Niall Shanks, whose recent book God, the Devil, and Darwin: A Critique of Intelligent Design Theory (Oxford UP, 2004) places him at the forefront of an escalating debate spanning the sciences, philosophy, and theology.
Both debates will be moderated by Dallas Willard. Co-sponsors include: The Center for Inquiry International, The Skeptic Society and Skeptic magazine, and The IDEA Center.