Title: Why Teach Evolution? | National Center for Science Education
Headings: Why Teach Evolution?
Why Teach Evolution?
What is biological evolution?
What about macroevolution?
Why is evolution mandated in science education standards?
Isn’t evolution only a theory?
Why are no other theories required in the science education standards?
What about other scientific "theories of origins?"
Isn’t evolution controversial?
What about dissenting scientists?
What about critical thinking?

Content: We are skeptical of claims for the ability of random mutation and natural selection to account for the complexity of life. Careful examination of the evidence for Darwinian theory should be encouraged." [ Click here to view the list.] This statement is misleading; it implies that evolutionary theory is based merely on random mutation and natural selection. In the past 140 years, many sources of biological change have been identified and incorporated into evolutionary theory. First, the statement describes evolutionary theory incorrectly. Then it implies that being skeptical of the incorrect definition is the same as being skeptical about biological evolution. This is a classic "straw-man" argument. u000bu000b
What about critical thinking?