Edward Caudill

Manipulating public opinion to stop science

Intelligently Designed: How Creationists Built the Campaign Against Evolution by Edward Caudill (University of Illinois Press, $25).

Edward Caudill, a professor of journalism at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, looks at the efforts, beginning in the 1980s, to re-frame the discussion of the science of biological evolution as an issue of politics through the use of the term “intelligent design” as a way to avoid the religious overtones of show more “creationism.”

It is, however, the same old religious wine in a new and trendy wineskin, and you may remember what the Bible has to say about that.

Caudill, as a journalist, is most interested in the process by which journalistic ethics of fairness and avoiding bias was manipulated to manufacture a “scientific” controversy where none exists. By establishing a public relations machine that included “institutes” and “journals”—far outside the established academic mainstream institutions and journals—creationists were able to re-package their attacks on science as non-religious, with an illusion of scholarship. That’s an excellent place to focus, since it’s this same systemic issue that has led to such poor reporting on, for instance, climate change. Journalists are trained in to practice a fairness principle on political matters that assumes objective truth and fact are irrelevant; by making “intelligent design” and “climate science” political issues instead of straight-up, evidence-based science, the far right has succeeded in using journalists to further their own ends.

Starting with the well-known “Scopes monkey trial” in Tennessee, Caudill provides an historical context for the assault on evolutionary theory. It’s a fascinating read, and is useful both as a history of science and a history of public relations/journalism.

(Published on Lit/Rant on 1/22/2014: http://litrant.tumblr.com/post/74163069300/manipulating-public-opinion-to-stop-s... show less

THE SCOPES TRIAL delivers an impressive photographic history, as well as intriguing commentary on the trial,
the important men defending and prosecuting, and the little town of Dayton, Tennessee so soon to become an International focus.

The 1925 trial of John Scopes -- prosecuted for teaching evolution in the local high school --may seem like ancient history. However, the issues it raised are with us today, as evidenced from the dangerous resurgence of creationism.

This extraordinary book brings the historic trial to life with rare and unusual photos never before collected in one place. During the six days of the trial, the tiny town of Dayton Tennessee swelled with visitors, scientific and legal experts, and newpaper show more reporters, and the photos give a sense of the carnival atmosphere that predominated. See the fiery prosecuting attorney, the three- time Presidential candidate, William Jennings Bryan -- here looking hot and tired -- and his equally fiery opponent, defense attorney Clarence Darrow; the crowded courtroom packed with spectators in the 100 degree heat; local townspeople selling monkey memorabilia; the huge banner on the court building admonishing "Read Your Bible"; and of course, a trained chimp on hand -- playing a child's piano, riding a horse, and posing for photographs.

If a picture is worth a thousand words, this book is worth 100 thousand. Gallons of ink have been used in describing the Scopes trial and its implications; but this book gives the reader a deep understanding of a different sort. Accompanying text by the Pultizer winning scholar Edward Larson gives a fine summary of the trial, corrects the many misconceptions, and offers descriptions of the photos themselves.

This book is well worth obtaining for anyone interested in this important episode in US history. Indeed, any college lecture on the Scopes trial would benefit from use of these fine photographs. show less

A useful book, for it deals with a unique subject, how there are firstly myths surrounding Darwinism, and then also misuses of Darwinism. It is not coming from a particularly creationist agenda, probably it is more evolutionary in its sympathies. But it is honest about problems surrounding Darwinism and some myths which have surrounded debate. A good book for anyone seeking to read a little more widely on the whole Darwinian debate, and 'step outside the ring' so to speak - and view it from show more the outside. I remain a non-evolutionist... and creationist. The book is helpful. show less