BOOKS
Another Look at Creationism Reviewed by Rudy M. Baum
Ashley Montagu is a distinguished anthropologist and a gifted writer. Unfortunately, judging from "Science and Creationism," he does not possess the instincts of an editor. As a result, this collection of essays on creationism, creationist tactics, and evolution is flawed by an almost complete lack of coherent organization. The book, in fact, reminds me of the old college joke about the professor who tosses students' term papers into the air and assigns them grades based on where they land. That seems to be a plausible mechanism for how Montagu chose to order the essays in "Science and Creationism. " That's too bad for a number of reasons. One is that, to my knowledge, this is the most comprehensive collection of essays on the subject now available to the general public. Another is that the contributors are distinguished group of men and vvomen, and their contributions are, with one or two notable exceptions, very good. But the most important reason is that the creationists are not going to go away. Most rational people are very tired of issues raised by creationism and wish that, like all thoroughly discredited ideas, it would simply disappear. But creationist antipathy toward evolution has, under one guise or another, been around for a long, long time despite numerous intellectual and legal setbacks. The gurus of creationism, in fact, now concede that pursuing the route of legislating, at the state level, the inclusion of their pseudoscientific claptrap in high school biology curricula was a tactical mistake. Creationist successes made tempting targets for the kind of lawsuits the creationists did not stand a chance of winning. However, despite their 1982 setback in Arkansas and a likely similar fate in Louisiana later this
these topics are scattered throughout the book. A collection of The scientific response to creagenerally insightful essays tionists' claims has been pretty well covered in previous books (such as ' T h e Monkey Business," by Niles on creationism and Eldredge, and "Abusing Science: The evolution is marred by Case Against Creationism," by Philip Kitcher). That does not mean that haphazard organization essays on this subject should be excluded from a collection such as "Science and Creationism," but they "Science and Creationism" edited by should not dominate the early part of Ashley Montagu, Oxford University the book as they do. By contrast, the Press, 200 Madison Ave., New York, demise of Arkansas' creationism law N.Y. 10016, 1984, 416 pages, $29.95 has not been explored in depth in hardback, $9.95 paperback previous books. Yet two fine essays on the trial in Little Rock and Judge Rudy M. Banni, C&EN's West Coast William R. Overton's remarkably bureau head, has followed the ereationismreadable decision are buried at the controversy for several years end of the book. Another example is Roy A. Gallant's quite good overview essay on year, the creationists have been, and creationism which appears on page continue to be, remarkably successful 282; by the time a reader has gone in applying their bully-boy tactics to this far, everything Gallant has to say individual teachers and local school has been said by someone else in more detail. boards. Final examples are Kenneth E. So another book providing an intellectual framework for countering Boulding's meditation on the proscreationist claims is welcome and pects for developing an evolutionary worthwhile. "Science and Creation- theology, and L. Beverly Halstead's ism" is an excellent reference work brash declaration of atheism (she for scientists and nonscientists alike calls the serpent the hero of the story who, for whatever reason, are in- of Adam and Eve's fall). They could volved in the creationism debate. stand in perfect counterpoint, yet The book's problem is a lack of in- they are separated by 82 pages of ternal structure and, as such, it lacks unrelated text. the allure such a collection of essays As for the essays themselves, about requires if it is to capture a reader's half are original and half reprints attention and hold it from cover to from other publications. As is to be cover. expected of such a collection, the "Science and Creationism" could quality varies but, overall, the essays easily have been divided into a are readable and informative. Several number of fairly well-defined sub- deserve special mention. "A Philosopher's Day in Court," by sections. For example, the editor could have grouped together essays Michael Ruse, a philosopher of on the history and fate of Arkansas' science at the University of Guelph so-called "balanced treatment" law, in Ontario, is a charming account of essays dealing with creationism in a the preparation for and conduct of broad context, those dealing with the trial in Little Rock. While procreationists' tactics and scientific viding an intelligent history of the claims, and those on the philosoph- balanced treatment act, the forces ical and religious implications of that shaped it, and the course of the creationism. As it is, essays on each of trial, Ruse takes his reader behind the July 9, 1984 C&EN
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Books shroud of legal decorum and procedure. Ruse was an American Civil Liberties Union witness, and he tells of his arrival in Little Rock on the day before the trial to find the ACLU theology witnesses, a hospitality room, but no lawyers—who were then huddled in a strategy session. "Religion witnesses and lonely philosopher trucked in," Ruse writes, "and by the time that the lawyers came back to Earth an hour or so later, no one was feeling much pain. To be honest, I think all of the witnesses were feeling a little bit scared." "Repealing the Enlightenment," by Gene Lyons, an apostate English professor who is now a free-lance writer living in Little Rock, is a wickedly satirical portrait of creationism and creationists of the Arkansas variety and of the trial itself. Lyons is a sharp observer and a quick study, and he turns a phrase as well as anybody in the business. Writing on the creationist claim that evolu-
tion implies a religion, for example, Lyons observes: "Suffice it to say, though, that evolution does not posit atheism. Science agrees to exclude the supernatural, yes. But so do accounting, law, and the rules of baseball. Are we now to have Bowie Kuhn denounced as a godless purveyor of materialistic satanism? Perhaps a creation baseball league will be next." Also noteworthy is the inclusion of Overton's lucid decision. One can read that decision alone and know almost everything one needs to know about the history and legal and intellectual status of creationism. "Science and Creationism" deserves credit if for no other reason than that it will help prevent Overton's decision from mouldering in legal casebooks. On the downside is Sidney W. Fox's long-winded, tendentious, virtually unreadable essay on research into the origins of life. The subject is important because a favor-
IHbuWae Named in a Lawsuit, WuldYour Employer Protect You? 42
July 9, 1984 C&EN
ite creationist ploy is tangling up evolution with the origin of life and claiming that doubts about the mechanisms of the latter prove the untenability of the former. Fox's essay is divided into interminable sections and subsections replete with Roman and Arabic numerals and upper- and lower-case letters designating them. Where Overton proves that some lawyers can write graceful English, Fox proves that some scientists cannot. Happily, almost all of the other essays in "Science and Creationism" are far closer in quality to its best offerings than to its worst. Which is why the book is disappointing. Packaged correctly, it would have been a fine addition to the literature on the subject; as it is, it leaves its readers adrift. D Analytical Calorimetry. Vol. 5. Julian F. Johnson, Philip S. Gill, editors, ix + 402 pages. Plenum Press, 233 Spring St., New York, N.Y. 10013. 1984. $59.50.
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Biomass, Catalysts and Liquid Fuels. Ian M. Campbell, vi + 169 pages. Technomic Pub lishing Co., 851 New Holland Ave., Box 3535, Lancaster, Pa. 17604. 1983. $36.
Series 248. Thaddeus E. Whyte Jr. et al. x + 465 pages. American Chemical Society, 1155—16th St., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036. 1984. $74.95.
Biotechnology: A Textbook of Industrial Microbiology. Wulf Crueger, Anneliese Crueger. χ + 308 pages. Sinauer Associates, Sunderland, Mass. 01375-0407. 1984. $28.95.
Characterization of Heterogeneous Catalysts. Francis Delannav, editor, χ + 409 pages. Mar cel Dekker Inc. 270 Madison Ave., New York, N.Y. 10016. 1984. $65.
Carbon Fibers. Jean-Baptiste Donnet, Roop Chand Bansal. χ + 291 pages. Marcel Dekker Inc., 270 Madison Ave., New York, N.Y. 10016. 1984. $75.
Chemical Reagents for Protein Modification. Vol. 1. Roger L. Lundblad, Claudia M. Noyes. 180 pages. CRC Press, 2000 Corporate Blvd., N.W., Boca Raton, Fla. 33431. 1984. $59.
Catalytic Conversions of Synthesis Gas and Alcohols to Chemicals. Richard G. Herman, editor, xi + 475 pages. Plenum Press, 233 Spring St., New York, N.Y. 10013. 1984. $69.50.
Chemical Research Faculties: An Interna tional Directory, wxv + 407 pages. American Chemical Society, 1155—16th St., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036. 1984. $129.95.
Chemical Atomism in the Nineteenth Cen tury: From Dalton to Cannizzaro. Alan J. Rocke. xviii -I- 386 pages. Ohio State University Press, 1050 Carmack Rd., Columbus, Ohio 43210. 1984. $27.50.
Chemistry and Characterization of Coal Macérais. ACS Symposium Series 252. Randall E. Winans, John C. Crelling, editors, ix + 184 pages. American Chemical Society, 1155—16th St., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036. 1984. $36.95.
Catalytic Materials: Relationship Between Structure and Reactivity. ACS Symposium
The Chemistry of Combustion Processes. ACS Symposium Series 249. Thompson M.
Sloane, editor, vii + 287 pages. American Chemical Society, 1155—16th St., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036. 1984. $49.95. Construction Sealants and Adhesives. 2nd Ed. Julian R. Panek, John Philip Cook, xvi + 348 pages. John Wiley & Sons, 605 Third Ave., New York, N.Y. 10016. 1984. $36.95. Contemporary Topics in Polymer Science. Vol. 4. William J. Bailey, Teiji Tsuruta, editors, xv + 1013 pages. Plenum Press, 233 Spring St., New York, N.Y. 10013. 1984. $125. Crown Ethers and Phase Transfer Catalysis in Polymer Science. Lon J. Mathias, Charles E. Carraher Jr., editors, ix + 426 pages. Plenum Press, 233 Spring St., New York, N.Y. 10013. 1984. $59.50. Polymeric Materials and Artificial Organs. ACS Symposium Series 256. Charles G. Gebelein, editor, viii + 206 pages. American Chemical Society, 1155—16th St., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036. 1984. $36.95. Proceedings of the First Annual International Conference of Plasma Chemistry and Technology. Herman V. Boenig, editor, ix + 209
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b Beilsteln in English 1984 marks the launching of the Fifth Supplementary Series of the best known reference work of organic chemistry, covering the literature from 1960 to 1980, in English. For further information, please contact: Springer-Verlag New York, Inc., Ms Mary Fugle 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10010 (212) 460-1584
Attending the ACS Convention in Philadelphia? Hear Reiner Luckenbach, Director of the Beilstein Institute, speak on the publication in ENGLISH of the Beilstein Handbook and on the forthcoming availability of Beilstein on-line. Details at the Springer-Verlag booth.
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Books pages. Technomic Publishing Co., 851 New Holland Ave., Box 3535, Lancaster, Pa. 17604. 1984. $45.
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Flavor Research Only 1984 Session Saturday - Sunday August 2 5 - 2 6 , 1 9 8 4 at the ACS National Meeting Philadelphia, Pennsylvania An intensive look at the latest techniques and developments in flavor chemistry as discussed by eminent flavor scientists from the U.S. and abroad. Topics include: • organic synthesis of flavor compounds and their structural elucidation • strengths and weaknesses of common analytical techniques used in flavor research • uses, limitations, and advances in various analytical methods • sensory analysis techniques that emphasize the isolation of flavor-active compounds in natural products • interaction of flavor molecules with other food components • much more Course Outline: • Introduction • Sample Preparation • Methods of Identification • Bioassays in Flavor Research • Vegetable and Fruit Flavors • Grapes and Wines • Volatile Flavors Course organizers: Dr. Terry E. Acree, Professor of Biochemistry, Dept. of Food Science and Technology, Cornell University Dr. Roy TeranishU Research Leader, Biocommunication Chemistry Research Unit, Agricultural Research Service, USD A Course will be held at the Sheraton University City, 36th & Chestnut St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ACS Members: $465.00 Nonmembers: $535.00 For more information or to register by phone: Call Karen Mcllvanie at (202) 872-4508. 44
July 9, 1984 C&EN
Process Energy Conservation Manual. F. William Payne, editor. 158 pages. Fairmont Press, P.O. Box 14227, Atlanta, Ga. 30324. 1983. $30. Proposal Preparation. Rodney D. Stewart, Ann L. Stewart, xxi + 319 pages. John Wiley & Sons Inc., 605 Third Ave., New York, N.Y. 10016. 1984. $32.95. Quantitative Electron-Probe Microanalysis. V. D. Scott, G. Love, editors. 345 pages. John Wiley & Sons Inc., 605 Third Ave., New York, N.Y. 10016. 1984. $44.95. Reactive Molecules. Curt Wentrup. xi + 333 pages. John Wiley & Sons Inc., 605 Third Ave., New York, N.Y. 10016. 1984. $34.95. Removal of Metals from Wastewater: Nuetralization and Precipitation. George C. Cushnie Jr. xiii + 323 pages. Noyes Publica tions, Mill Road at Grand Ave., Park Ridge, N.J. 07656. 1984. $32. U.S. Energy Policy: Crisis and Complacency. Don E. Kash, Robert W. Rycroft. xviii -I- 334 pages. University of Oklahoma Press, 1005 Asp Ave., Norman, Okla. 73019. 1984. $19.95. Water-Soluble Synthetic Polymers: Proper ties and Behavior. Vol. I. Philip Molyneux. 225 pages. CRC Press, 2000 Corporate Blvd. N.W., Boca Raton, Fla. 33431. 1983. $75. Water-Soluble Synthetic Polymers: Proper ties and Behavior. Vol. II. Philip Molyneux. 266 pages. CRC Press, 2000 Corporate Blvd. N.W., Boca Raton, Fla. 33431. 1983. $83.
Paperbacks. Chemicals in the Oil Industry. P. H. Ogden, editor, vi + 217 pages. Royal Society of Chemistry, Burlington House, London W1V OBN, England. 1983. $22. The Enchanted Ring: the Untold Story of Penicillin. John C. Sheehan. xvi + 224 pages. MIT Press, 28 Carleton St., Cambridge, Mass. 02142. 1984. $6.95. Groundwater Contamination. National Re search Council, Geophysics Study Committee, xii + 179 pages. National Academy Press, 2101 Constitution Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. 10020. 1984. $39.95. Industry and the Environment in Perspec tive. R. E. Hester, editor, xii + 222 pages. Royal Society of Chemistry, Burlington House, London W1V OBN, England. 1983. $24.
Maximum Concentrations at the Workplace and Biological Tolerance Values for Working Materials 1983. Commission for the Investi gation of Health Hazards of Chemical Com pounds in the Work Area. 75 pages. Verlag Chemie International Inc., 303 N.W. 12th Ave., Deerfield Beach, Fla. 33441. 1983. $10. Moisture Sorption: Practical Aspects of Iso therm Measurement and Use. Theodore P. Labuza. viii + 150 pages. American Associa tion of Cereal Chemists, 3340 Pilot Knob Rd., St. Paul, Minn. 55121. 1984. $22.50 member; $28.50 nonmember. National Environmetnal Policies and Re search Programs: a Comparison Among Se lected Countries. Richard D. Brown, Robert P. Ouellette, Paul N. Cheremisinoff. χ + 160 pages. Technomic Publishing Co., 851 New Holland Ave., Box 3535, Lancaster, Pa. 17604. 1983. $25. Photogenerated Reagents in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Hagan Bayley. xiii + 187 pages. Elsevier Science Publishing Co., P.O. Box 1663, Grand Central Station, New York, N.Y. 10163. 1983. $22.25. Pollution: Causes, Effects, and Control. Roy M. Harrison, editor. 322 pages.Royal Society of Chemistry, Burlington House, London Wl V OBN, England. 1983. $21. Recent Advances in the Chemistry of Meat. Allen J. Bailey, editor. 245 pages. Royal Society of Chemistry, Burlington House, London Wl V OBN, England. 1984. $27. Speer's Digest of Toxic Substances-State Law 1983-1984; Trends, Summaries, and Forecasts. R. D. Speer, Gerard A. Bulanoswki, editors, ix + 360 pages. Speer's Digest of Toxic Substances State Law 1983-84, P.O. Box 8005, Boulder, Colo. 80306-8005. 1983. $65. Total Synthesis of Natural Products: the "Chiron" Approach. Stephen Hanessian, ed itor, xvii + 291 pages. Pergamon Press, Max well House, Fairview Park, Elmsford, N.Y. 10523. 1983. $20. Toxicity Testing: Strategies To Determine Needs and Priorities. National Research Council, xiii + 282 pages. National Academy Press, 2101 Constitution Ave., N.W., Wash ington, D.C. 20418. 1984. $22.50. Transfer Theory for Trapped Electromag netic Energy. 2nd Revised Ed. Georges Lucas. 73 pages. John Wiley & Sons Inc., 605 Third Ave., New York, N.Y. 10016. 1983. $16. University-Industry Research Relationships. National Science Board, vii + 295 pages. Su perintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402.1983. $7.00.
