Only A Theory
{{Short description|2008 book by Kenneth R. Miller}}
{{Infobox book |
| name = Only A Theory: Evolution and the Battle for America's Soul
| image = Only-a-theory-by-kenneth-miller.jpg
| caption = Cover
| author = Kenneth R. Miller
| country = United States
| language = English
| subjects = Creationism
Evolution
| publisher = Penguin Group
| pub_date = 12 June 2008
| media_type = Print (Hardcover)
| pages = 256
| isbn = 978-0-670-01883-3
| oclc =
| preceded_by = Finding Darwin's God
| followed_by =
}}
Only A Theory: Evolution and the Battle for America's Soul is a 2008 book by the American cell biologist and Roman Catholic Kenneth R. Miller.{{cite news |title=Only a Theory|url=http://us.penguingroup.com/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9780670018833,00.html |publisher=Penguin Group |access-date=2008-05-02 }} In the book, Miller examines the battle between evolution and intelligent design (ID), and explores the implications of the battle for science in America. The title of the book references the common misconception of what "theory" means in the context of science and evolution.
Reception
Glenn C. Altschuler reviewed the book saying "Though I.D. trumpets its connections to information theory, biochemistry and molecular biology, Miller concludes, as did Judge John Jones in Kitzmiller v. Dover, it rests, ultimately, on ignorance. Extending an olive branch to religious Americans, Miller suggests that evolution and faith aren't really in conflict because all of nature is part of God's providential plan."{{cite news | url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2008/06/15/a-counterattack-for-evolution/ | title=A counterattack for evolution | work=The Baltimore Sun |date= June 15, 2008 | first=Glenn | last= Altschuler | access-date =2014-09-14}}
Biologist PZ Myers wrote "Miller is a fine writer who sharply addresses the details of the arguments about intelligent design creationism. When tackling old chestnuts such as the 'only a theory' complaint, or Michael Behe's argument for a maximum limit for the number of genetic mutations, or William Dembski's rehash of William Paley's watchmaker argument for complexity, Miller discusses the contemporary biological explanations while refuting the errors."{{cite news | url=http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v454/n7204/full/454581a.html | title=BOOK REVIEWED: Only a Theory: Evolution and the Battle for America's Soul | publisher=Nature |date= 31 July 2008 |page=454, 581-582 | first=PZ | last= Myers | access-date =2008-08-17}}
A number of reviewers had pointed out a factual inaccuracy in the book: on page 149, Miller referred to the Dingo as a marsupial, when in fact Dingos are feral dogs.{{cite news | url=http://ncse.com/rncse/29/3/review-only-theory | title=Review: Only a Theory | publisher=National Center for Science Education | journal=Reports of the National Center for Science Education |date= May–June 2009 | first=Andrea | last= Bottaro | access-date =2009-11-05 |volume=29 | pages=40–41}} In his list of errata, published online, Miller gave a correct reading of the passage: "It produced hunter-predator marsupials like the dingo and the Tasmanian tiger," should read "It produced hunter-predator marsupials like the tiger quoll and the Tasmanian wolf."{{cite web|url=http://www.onlyatheorythebook.com/errata.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100926012207/http://onlyatheorythebook.com/errata.pdf|url-status=usurped|archive-date=September 26, 2010|title=Only A Theory: Errata|date=2009-01-06|access-date=2009-11-05|author=Kenneth R. Miller|author-link=Kenneth R. Miller}}
On June 16, 2008, Miller was interviewed on The Colbert Report discussing the book.{{cite news|url=http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/173859/june-16-2008/kenneth-miller |title=Ken Miller |publisher=The Colbert Report |date=June 16, 2008 |access-date=2008-12-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216140151/http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/173859/june-16-2008/kenneth-miller |archive-date=December 16, 2008 }}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/298225/only-a-theory-by-kenneth-r-miller/|Only a Theory official website}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20210226021443/https://www.cc.com/video/2qbk3w/the-colbert-report-kenneth-miller On Colbert Report]
Category:2008 non-fiction books
Category:Books about evolution
Category:Books by Kenneth R. Miller