In a recent interview discussing evolution, GOP presidential hopeful Rick Santorum claimed that “many on the left” and “in the scientific community, so to speak” are “afraid of discussion” about "God" "or a creator" in public school science classrooms. Santorum says that "science will only allow things in the classroom that are consistent with a non-creator idea of how we got here, as if somehow or another that's scientific.” He says, “Well, maybe the science points to the fact that maybe science doesn't explain all these things” and “It's worth the debate [in the classrooms].” Are Santorum's ideas tenable?
A common charge levied against scientists is that they are afraid of discussion and are purposefully restricting what is taught in public school classrooms. Scientists, outside of public school classrooms, are not afraid of having discussions about ideas such as creationism and intelligent design. Many scientists such as Massimo Pigliucci (who now has PhDs in botany, genetics, and philosophy of science) have debated various creationists arguing in favor of evolution and have written various books on the 'controversy.' Public school classrooms, though, are not places for teaching about theological ideas, but rather are places to teach about science.
Science purposefully restricts what is being taught in public school classrooms – and for good reason. Science is not a 'free-for-all' atmosphere in which any idea is presented, but rather is based on standards and well-evidenced ideas concerning the natural world. Science operates under the banner of methodological naturalism; when doing research, scientists look for naturalistic explanations [rather than supernatural explanations] and assume that a naturalistic explanation will be found.
If scientists do not find a naturalistic explanation when considering a phenomenon, they do not arrive at a conclusion that a supernatural agent is a feasible explanation, but rather continue research. Science limits itself to investigation of the natural world and thus would not justly posit a supernatural explanation.
Comments like these from Santorum are nothing new. An article written by Santorum titled “A Balanced Approach to Teach Evolution” notes “[E]volution is a theory that deals with ancient and unrepeatable events. This should warn us to teach Darwinian evolution [...] since we'll never really be certain about the cause of many events in the history of life.” Santorum also writes that evolution is “a theory subject to significant limitations, failed predictions and important criticisms” and that “We should encourage schools to teach better science and to teach more about evolution including the gaps and controversies surrounding evolution.”
While there may be disagreement surrounding some aspects of evolutionary history, there is no legitimate disagreement as to whether evolution occurred. The National Center for Science Education notes, “[S]cientists continue to explore when and why feathers evolved and how birds gained flight. Scientists, however, do not doubt that species have changed over time […] and that all known organisms share common ancestry.”
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