Join The Conversation
Books offer us new ways of thinking by inviting us to imagine the lives and thinking of other people. Understanding how and why they see themselves and their worlds, we learn not only about them, but by comparison, ourselves as well. This summer, as you read this provocative account of the historical trial of Kitzmiller vs. Dover, in which a group of parents and teachers resist the teaching of Intelligent Design in the ninth grade biology classrooms of their local high schools, we invite you to reflect on the beliefs that shape our lives and the communities, small and large, that nurture them. As you step into your new community at Western we invite you to join the conversation about The Battle Over the Meaning of Everything by considering the following questions:
- Slack situates his account of the trial in the context of his differences in belief from those of his father, a man whose religious fundamentalism, Slack readily admits, may have saved him from alcoholism and drug abuse. Reflecting on Slack’s relationship to his father and the differences of belief that relationship opens up to him, consider how our lives incline us toward specific beliefs about the nature of our existence. What is the basis for Slack’s belief in evolution? And the basis for his father’s belief in creationism? How does Slack’s account of the trial and the beliefs of the many other scientists, teachers, lawyers and community members who participated in it, help you understand the role of experience in the development of your own identity and beliefs about the nature of the world?
- Slack describes in detail the conflicting beliefs of supporters of Evolution and advocates of Intelligent Design shared in the trial. This panoramic view helps us imagine the conflicts within the Dover community and the national debate over the nature of and meaning of scientific theory and practice. In doing so he helps us imagine a complex world in which conflicting beliefs shape human interaction, from the smallest exchange between parent and child to the larger relationships between public institutions, like schools, and the communities and nation they serve. What are the specific benefits of developing such a wide-ranging yet focused understanding of differences in belief?
- Slack provides not only an account of national and local debates over what constitutes science but also an intimate portrait of two fundamentally American communal processes: a school board and a courtroom. Not unlike the university classes and student groups to which you will soon commit your self, the school board and courtroom are defined by specific traditions and rules while making way for innovation and change. How does Slack’s account help you consider the disciplinary, institutional and historical nature of the communities you will join here at Western? How has understanding the conventions of other communities in which you have played a part helped you to understand your role and the creative possibilities available to you? How might the challenges you have faced in your life suggest preparation for specific forms of study and creativity here at Western?
Western Reads is a campus-wide reading program designed to promote intellectual engagement, conversation and community.
