One on One with Dr. Finley
A Personal Interview answering many of the questions that have been sent in to me over the years.
"No, I don't have a PhD yet, but I was once told that if you speak it, you can make it come into being." - Dr. Reginald V. Finley Sr
1.) What is Science?
a.) Well, let's not reinvent the wheel here. According to Google (because I like google), Science is: "the intellectual and practical activity encompassing the systematic study of the structure and behavior of the physical and natural world through observation and experiment." This mirrors common definitions also found in Websters and other dictionaries and it seems fair so, we'll go with that. I like to say, "An honest and systematic way of discovering facts about our natural world."
2.) What are your beliefs?
a.) My secular foundation, at its core, is to do the least of harm while maximizing the greatest good for mankind.
b.) My religious foundation? Let me say it this way; modern man has only been on this planet for a very short while. It's highly unlikely that we have absolute knowledge about something that, by its nature, is outside of our physical reality.
3.) Does Science Have all the Answers?
a.) No. Science has the potential to answer difficult questions about our physical world. It does this by allowing us to in fact question what we think reality is. Some other epistemic worldviews, do not allow this flexibility.. and I think you know what kinda of worldviews those are.
4.) Why is Science Important to you?
a.) Science is important me because it is a tool that can improve the quality of life for all beings on the planet if used properly.
5.) But science has brought forth so much devastation and disaster: Nuclear bombs, agent orange, etc..
a.) Science doesn't carry a moral impetus, humans do. Science is a tool. Its use can be used for great evil or great good. Like a knife, it can be used to save a life by removing a foreign body, or it can be used to kill. However, having more knowledge about our world and discovering this knowledge through science, cannot be a bad thing. Since when is it bad or wrong to know more than you did the day before. I'd argue that ignorant people use science to fit their own agendas... if they continued to think critically and apply science simutaneously, this world would definitely move into much better days.
6.) So you think that critical thinking is important as well?
a.) Absolutely, at its most basic, scientific thinking is dependent on critical thinking. For me, the basis of critical thinking is for one to at least consider that there may be a different way; that is to say, one could be wrong. Without the ability for one to consider themselves as being wrong, one could be stuck in a dogmatic perspective without any rational reason for thinking so. In fact, in debates that I am asked to attend, I am notorious for asking my opponent whether they are open enough to change their position. If they are not, there is no need to begin the discussion. If more people in the world could admit to possibly being wrong about their ideas, even those ideas/beliefs held deeply, this world would truly start to become an even better place to live for all people.
7.) How could someone admitting that they could be wrong improve the world?
a.) We live in a very violent world. Most of the conflicts surround the idea that I am right and your are wrong. One justifies their actions based on how correct they believe they are. If for one moment they were to contemplate that they may be in error, in effect "doubting" their ideas, they open a whole new world of dialogue and alleviate non-absolutism. Imagine the myriad of conflicts: domestic, global, personal, religious etc.. that could be averted if more people were to be humble and say, "You know, I think this, but I could be wrong."
8.) Do you view religion as primitive?
a.) In general, I view most religions as stagnant. In a progressively moving forward world, religion tends to fight to stay the same no matter the changes are going on in the world and no matter who they effect. If one views religion as a set of ancient beliefs that haven't changed much in 5000 years, then yes, it's primitive. This isn't to say it's useless. I'm just not in need of it.
9.) What do you tell children about religion?
Nothing. I tell them to talk to their parents. Now, if the curriculum I am teaching conflicts with a students religious worldview, and they adamantly express an issue with that; I remind them that this is the consensus of expert scientists. They can take it up with the scientists. I also remind the older students that many believers have discovered a compatibility between modern science and religion and see no conflict. Dr. Kenneth Miller for instance.
10.) What do you tell YOUR kids about religion?
a.) I have informed my children that they can choose any religious belief they wish. My only request is that they think critically and always ask the basic: who, what, when, where, why, and how in approaching a religion.
11.) Why do you think you are qualified to discuss science topics?
a.) I am about as qualified as anyone else that understands how science works and has a true passion for science and science education.
12.) What are your views on Biological Evolution?
a.) That it has happened, is happening, and will continue to occur until gene flow stops between all species of organism.
13.) But isn't Evolution Just a Theory?
a.) Evolution is a fact and a theory. Evolution is really nothing more than the changes in allele frequencies over time. It is an observable fact that this occurs. Now, Evolutionary Theory explains HOW evolution works. You can see why people get confused.
14.) But what about human evolution? No one has seen Human Evolution occur.
a.) Well, it's not that we haven't seen human evolution occur. Changes in allele frequencies do happen often (see: PLos Article Here), it's just that we haven't seen non-humans become human in real-time... and we never will. Think of tree growth. We don't technically see trees grow. They grow very slowly, so sitting there watching a tree grow in real-time would be quite tedious if not bad for your health. One doesn't argue that the tree must not have grown because its growth wasn't seen. We use the preponderance of evidence to elucidate us on the events that lead to the tree forming and growing. This is the case with fossils and genetic evidence. Please review (Transitional Forms) for more evidence on ancient speciation.
* Please send your questions to me HERE. I'll post them here for all to see. Not all questions will make it if I feel I have covered it in-depth or if I feel it is irrelevant. Thanks - RVF
