Oct. 17, 2000
Baylor Releases Polanyi Center Committee Report
by Larry Brumley
Baylor University President Robert B. Sloan Jr. today released
the report
of the Michael Polanyi Center peer review committee, which was appointed
last spring to assess the purposes and activities of the controversial
center.
The eight-member committee, composed of academics from throughout
the
country and chaired by Dr. William F. Cooper, professor of philosophy
and
former dean of the Baylor College of Arts and Sciences, concluded that
the
Polanyi Center's mission of fostering dialogue regarding the history
and
philosophy of science and especially the relationship between science
and
religion is important, even if sometimes controversial.
The report further stated that "the committee wishes to make
it clear
that it considers research on the logical structure of mathematical
arguments for intelligent design to have a legitimate claim to a place
in
current discussions of the relations of religion and the sciences."
Polanyi Center Director William Dembski's research and writings
in the
area of intelligent design have been the most controversial aspects
of the
Center's work, even though its academic mission is much broader.
Specifically, the committee recommended that the University establish
an
advisory committee, to be composed of Baylor faculty members from
disciplines related to the Center's work, to assist in planning and
reviewing its activities. The report also said that the linking of
the
name of Michael Polanyi to programs related to intelligent design is,
on
the whole, inappropriate, given the late scientist's views as expressed
in
his book Personal Knowledge.
The committee recommended
that the University discontinue the use
of the name while continuing the Center's work within the Institute
for
Faith and Learning. The Polanyi Center has resided administratively
within
Baylor's three-year-old Institute for Faith and Learning since it was
established in 1999.
"I want to express my deep
appreciation to Dr. Cooper and the
other members of the review committee for their diligence and dedication
in carrying out their charge," Sloan said. "They invested many hours
in
reviewing and evaluating the work of the Polanyi Center and have delivered
a well-written and thoughtful report. I accept all of the committee's
recommendations and have asked Provost Donald Schmeltekopf to implement
them fully and specifically as soon as possible.
"I am pleased that the central
mission of the Center has been
affirmed and that the committee has underscored the fact that support
of
academic freedom includes protecting controversial ideas," Sloan said.
"We
certainly could have and should have handled more effectively the
program's implementation, but we will correct some of those early mistakes
by acting on the committee's recommendations, specifically to appoint
a
faculty advisory committee and to discontinue the use of the Michael
Polanyi name."
Schmeltekopf said
work will begin immediately on appointing the
advisory committee. "I will be consulting with Dr. Wallace Daniel,
dean of
the College of Arts and Sciences, and others on the appointment of
an
advisory committee that includes faculty members from disciplines that
relate to the history and philosophy of science as well as those
disciplines that touch on the relationship between science and religion.
Its role will be to clarify policies and practices and serve as a sounding
board for these programs in the Institute for Faith and Learning. I
also
anticipate that the committee will play an important role in encouraging
better communication between the Institute and various academic
departments on campus."
The full text of the committee's report is available online here.
(UWAGA - plik w formacie PDF - konieczne
jest posiadanie AcrobatReader)
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Patrz tez: President Sloan Addresses Polanyi Center Issue