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Sacred Bovines Douglas Allchin (Historian and Philosopher of Science and Science Educator, Historian and Philosopher of Science and Science Educator)

Sacred Bovines By Douglas Allchin (Historian and Philosopher of Science and Science Educator, Historian and Philosopher of Science and Science Educator)

Summary

This book is a collection of short essays, each challenging a commonplace assumption about biology - playfully dubbed "Sacred Bovines."

Sacred Bovines Summary

Sacred Bovines: The Ironies of Misplaced Assumptions in Biology by Douglas Allchin (Historian and Philosopher of Science and Science Educator, Historian and Philosopher of Science and Science Educator)

Some assumptions about biology are so deeply rooted in our thinking that they seem beyond question. These concepts - expressed in playful jargon - are our sacred bovines. With a light-hearted spirit, Douglas Allchin sets out to challenge many of these common beliefs about science and life. Allchin draws on fascinating insights from science to illustrate the ironies in many widespread beliefs. Be prepared to challenge the notion that male and female are fixed natural categories. Or that evolution implies cutthroat competition in human society. Or that we struggle against a fundamental immoral nature. Or that genes establish our identity. Or that science progresses through rare leaps of genius. Or that politics and emotions inevitably taint good science. Sacred Bovines revels in revelations about the nature of science. Reflecting on the many errors in commonly accepted, everyday ideas also fosters creative thinking. How do we challenge assumptions? How do we think outside the box? The many examples here provide inspiration and guidance, further elaborated in a retrospective epilogue. An additional "Afterword for Teachers" highlights how the essays can foster learning about the nature of science and describes some practical classroom strategies.

Sacred Bovines Reviews

In this amazing collection of 28 essays portraying the nature of science, many of which were first published in his American Biology Teacher column "Sacred Bovines," Allchin brilliantly explores and challenges a wide variety of topics such as the nature and validity of science, errors in science, evolution theory, biological heroes, and ethics and values. The essays support the value of wonder as a target in biology education. As Allchin explains, "Immersed in wonder, one may learn to appreciate living things more deeply." * Richard Lord, Retired Biology Teacher, The American Biology Teacher *
Sacred Bovines is a wonderful collection of essays, most of which have been adapted from a column that Allchin has been writing over the years for The American Biology Teacher... these essays with their varied topics and engaging style deserve a wide readership. There is much to ponder for anyone who is curious about biology and the nature of science. * Sherrie Lyons, Science & Education Journal *
This volume, by the historian and philosopher of science Douglas Allchin, was a pleasure to read. It is the kind of book that one picks up, reads a few chapters, chuckles a little, and then puts down for a few weeks until a happenstance gaze rekindles interest against ones more pressing obligations. * Daniel R. Deen, The Quarterly Review of Biology *

About Douglas Allchin (Historian and Philosopher of Science and Science Educator, Historian and Philosopher of Science and Science Educator)

Douglass Allchin is is a historian and philosopher of science and science educator. He holds a PhD in "Conceptual Foundations of Science" from the University of Chicago. He has taught at the University of Minnesota since 2001. Allchin has published extensively on history of science, philosophy of science and science education. His research focuses primarily on error and disagrement in science. He also edits the SHiPS Resource Center, a website for helping teachers teach about the nature of science.

Table of Contents

Prologue: The Ironies of Misplaced Assumptions The Way of Science 1 Monsters and Marvels 2 The Messy Story Behind the Most Beautiful Experiment in Biology 3 Ahead of the Curve 4 Marxism and Cell Biology 5 The Dogma of "the" Scientific Method Darwin, Evolution & Society 6 Was Darwin a Social Darwinist? 7 Social Un-Darwinism 8 A More Fitting Analogy 9 The Domesticated Gene Making Mistakes 10 A Comedy of Scientific Errors 11 Nobel Ideals and Noble Errors 12 Celebrating Darwin's Errors What Counts as Science 13 Science Beyond Scientists 14 Skepticism and the Architecture of Trust 15 Science Con-Artists Naturalizing Cultural Values 16 Male, Female, and/or -? 17 Monsters and the Tyranny of Normality 18 To Be Human 19 Genes R Us 20 The Peppered Moths, A Study in Black and White Myth-conceptions 21 Alexander Fleming's "Eureka" Moment 22 Round vs. Wrinkled: Gregor Mendel as Icon 23 William Harvey and Capillaries 24 The Tragic Hero of Childbed Fever Values & Biology Education 25 Respect for Life 26 Hands-Off Dissection? 27 Organisms, Modified, Genetically 28 Close to Nature Epilogue: Challenging Our Sacred Bovines Afterword for Educators Notes References Acknowledgments Image Credits Index

Additional information

GOR009239539
9780190490362
0190490365
Sacred Bovines: The Ironies of Misplaced Assumptions in Biology by Douglas Allchin (Historian and Philosopher of Science and Science Educator, Historian and Philosopher of Science and Science Educator)
Used - Very Good
Hardback
Oxford University Press Inc
2017-08-31
264
N/A
Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.
This is a used book - there is no escaping the fact it has been read by someone else and it will show signs of wear and previous use. Overall we expect it to be in very good condition, but if you are not entirely satisfied please get in touch with us

Customer Reviews - Sacred Bovines