Leave creationism for philosophy

Re “Academy defends teaching evolution,” Jan. 4

I could not help but notice the curious juxtaposition of creationist Mike Huckabee’s win in Iowa on the front page with this article on the last page. The news media have been giving Huckabee a free ride by ignoring his hard-line creationist views. I hope this will now end.

Anita Guerrini

Professor of Environmental

Studies and History

UC Santa Barbara

Although I agree with the U.S. National Academy of Sciences that evolution and not creationism must be taught in public school science classes, I see no reason why our public schools should not offer courses in philosophy to discuss creationism, “intelligent design” and the fundamental issue of whether the universe is purposeful. With regard to creationism, one could imagine the teacher introducing the students to Hesiod’s “Theogony” and Ovid’s “Metamorphoses” and contrasting them with Genesis, and popular books on the Big Bang, to show the students the diversity of mankind’s thinking about these problems. They could be exposed to the teaching about evolution of the ancient Greeks thousands of years before Charles Darwin was born. In addition, the philosophy teacher could offer courses in logic, artificial intelligence and moral philosophy.

I recommend that the U.S. quit bickering about evolution and appropriate the funds necessary to offer philosophy courses in which controversial issues could be pursued in a scholarly and stimulating manner.

Frank R. Tangherlini

San Diego

The writer is an associate professor of physics, emeritus.