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    The McMaster Department of Philosophy has now put together the following notice commemorating Barry: Barry Allen: A Philosophical Life Barry…

Montana Taliban trying to wreck science education

Brian Leiter

MOVING TO FRONT FROM JANUARY 24–UPDATED    

Religiously inspired stupidity isn't dead yet, as a new draft bill in Montana makes clear, which states that, "a scientific fact is observable and repeatable, and if it does not meet these criteria, it is a theory that is defined as speculation," and can't be taught in the public schools.  Oy veh!  Does the draft bill have any chance of enactment?   Comments from knowledgeable readers welcome.

(Thanks to Bradley Wood for the pointer.)

UPDATE:  I learn from comments by Glenn Branch, below, that this mischief has died in committee.

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9 responses to “Montana Taliban trying to wreck science education”

  1. Nate

    RIP Eddington's eclipse experiment.

    Reply
  2. Bob

    The bill is unlikely to be vetoed by the MT governor, Greg Gianforte. Gianforte is well known for promoting creationist pseudo-science. For example, he is a donor of the Glendive Dinosaur and Fossil Museum, according to which dinosaurs and humans once coexisted.

    Reply
  3. Gary Kemp

    Is existence of God observable?

    Reply
  4. Albert Eisenstein

    The funny thing about the Taliban is that they won in the end

    Reply
  5. Glenn Branch

    Coverage from the National Center for Science Education:
    https://ncse.ngo/draft-antiscience-bill-montana

    Reply
  6. Glenn Branch

    The bill was introduced today (1/30/2023) as SB 235.

    Reply
  7. Glenn Branch

    After a 2/6/2023 hearing, the Senate Education and Cultural Resources Committee voted to table SB 235 on a 11-0 vote (which included its sponsor). Coverage from the National Center for Science Education:
    https://ncse.ngo/montanas-antiscience-bill-heard-committee
    https://ncse.ngo/montanas-antiscience-bill-tabled-committee

    Reply
  8. Andrew Sepielli

    The main thing I remember about Gianforte is that he beat the shit out of a reporter, and was publicly praised by Trump for doing so. Then again, Preston Brooks, a Democrat (!), beat Charles Sumner with a cane on the Senate floor ~170 years ago, so it's really a "both sides" sort of thing.

    Reply
  9. Howard

    @Gary Kemp

    Yes in away it is observable or palpable in the sense of lived as real. Much in our lives is real only because people stage it as a reality.
    This assault on science amounts to a morality play of sorts, a kind of off Broadway morality play that is only gripping to the true beiievers.
    They feel Jesus is real in their hearts.
    It's kind of stupid or silly but these are real people and definitely not philosphers

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