Reviews for Tower of Babel

The average rating for Tower of Babel based on 2 reviews is 5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2012-01-16 00:00:00 Samuel Chiang TOWER OF BABEL is both an elegant history of creationism in the United States and a splendid rebuttal of creationism in all of its varieties, especially, intelligent design. Much to Pennock's credit he takes the novel approach of drawing analogies between linguistic and biological evolution. Not surprisingly, he notes that creationist critics of evolution are also quite critical of linguistics viewed from an evolutiuonary perspective. He notes how languages can be viewed as linguistic equivalents of species, with individual "subspecies" - dialects - gradually evolving into new languages. He also does an elegant job stating the evidence for evolution and why Darwin's theory of evolution via natural selection remains the great explanatory theory for biology. Pennock makes a very persuasive case for the religious origins of "Intelligent Design" creationism, noting that its major proponents - Michael Behe, Willaim Dembski, and Phillip Johnson - are more interested in replacing "naturalistic" science with a theistic science that accepts Divine intervention than in determining the scientific validity - or lack thereof - of "Intelligent Design". Pennock states in the concluding chapter of TOWER OF BABEL that "intelligent-design creationists are wrong to say that evolution is just a 'loaded story" or assumed point of view; rather, it is as well confirmed by the scientific evidence as any of the great explanatory theories. More important, they are wrong to say that scientific naturalism is metaphysical dogma; rather, it is a methodology that is rationally justified and that is accessible to all." Like their biblical creationist kin, "Intelligent Design" creationists regard evolution as the source of all evils associated with modern American society, ranging from the spread of AIDS (For example, Pennock notes Johnson's support of a disreputable AIDS researcher who thinks AIDS is more the result of a degenerate homosexual lifestyle rather than its sexual transmission via HIV/AIDS viruses.) to liberalism. Pennock concludes with an overview of ongoing battles between "Intelligent Design" advocates and scientists for control of the content of scientific learning in public school classrooms across the country. He notes that the injection of religious doctrine into classrooms through the introduction of "Intelligent Design" is a dangerous assault on American liberties and values, and one that should not be taken lightly by its adherents or potential supporters. Along with Kenneth Miller's FINDING DARWIN'S GOD and Philip Kitcher's ABUSING SCIENCE, this splendid book is one of the finest critiques of creationism and among the most eloquent defenses on behalf of not only biological evolution, but indeed, all of science. (Reposted from my 2002 Amazon review)

Review # 2 was written on 2012-04-12 00:00:00 Dan Allen I liked this book a lot...but after all I guess I am part of the choir. The book uses the evolution of culture and language in particular as a model to question the motives/logic of the Deniers. They readily embrace all of the tenants of evolution, just not organic evolution. I am always dumbfounded by the convoluted logic/arguments put up by creationists. I have my own thesis on what they are up to, at least the brain trust and leadership of these groups. But the regular folks that repeat the really gratuitously silly arguments and pseudo-data do confound common sense to me. Mainly because they generally actually believe this stuff, unlike their leaders who are just self-serving celebrati, who don't for a minute believe any of it. The conflict and strife they foment is just a tool to building their power. The book deconstructs the various cults, and various is an understatement. The basic creationist notion has been atomized into more sects than a brothel (OK my metaphore, sucks...ooops) These folks can't even agree on what elements of their nonsense are dogma. It's great fodder but for the most part I have read most of this elsewhere too. Here it takes them all on in detail so it makes a great reference. Readers who want get a sense of what followership is about read Joe Bageant, Deerhunting with Jesus (check my bookshelves). It describes their world view but it surely doesn't make it any more sensible to me. Another good work on the rational side of the fence includes: Denying Evolution; Massimo Pigliucci (not reviewed yet)