Here's a pictorial hint:
Charles Darwin (left) and Richard Dawkins (right)
That's right. Despite what the Discovery Institute would like us to believe, Charles Darwin and Richard Dawkins are two completely different people!
The first picture is a screen shot of the revised introductory video that is now posted on the Discovery Institute's "faith + evolution" website. They have secretly updated their version of the video to identify the true source of the "pitiless indifference" quote. (The original version of the video - with the original misattribution - can still be viewed on Illustra Media's YouTube channel.)
It is heartening to see the DI at least acknowledge the dishonesty of the original video. Unfortunately, they have not corrected the misleading insinuation that Richard Dawkins's provocative prose is the inevitable conclusion that must be drawn from Charles Darwin's view of the world. Rather than admit that they were wrong to conflate the views of the two men, they have merely softened their lie by silently removing the obvious misattribution.
All of this makes John West's recent comments in defense of his organization's "faith + evolution" website all the more hypocritical.
"In a good dialogue, both parties typically at least assume the good faith of each other and try to respond with arguments based on evidence, not specious attacks on motives."
Why would anyone assume that the Discovery Institute acts in good faith when they can't even bring themselves to acknowledge that they were caught telling a blatant lie?
I do not know the answer to that question.
But I do know what happens when you assume.
posted by Jeremy Mohn
