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Stephen Jay Gould

Stephen Jay Gould. On the Origin of Specious Critics. About Gould. Doctorate in 1967 in paleontology at Columbia University

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Stephen Jay Gould

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  1. Stephen Jay Gould On the Origin of Specious Critics

  2. About Gould • Doctorate in 1967 in paleontology at Columbia University • Teamed with biologist Biles Eldredge and announced their evolutionary idea in 1972—argued evolution moves in abrupt fits and sits with long periods of no changes in species • Taught geology and biology at Harvard • Diagnosed with an incurable cancer in July 1982 • 1998 – visited Stanford University • Died May 20, 2002 from cancer

  3. Genre & Rhetoric • Critique of Rifkin’s Algeny book • Published in Discover magazine • Rhetorical analysis & refutation of Rifkin’s work

  4. Audience • Readers interested in new technologies concerning our species—medicine and related • Educated – should understand the English language well enough to understand Gould’s critique • Those favoring bioengineering

  5. Argument • Question: What are the consequences of altering life’s fundamental geometry and permitting one species to design new creatures at will, combining bits and pieces of lineages distinct for billions of years? • Critique: “I regard Algeny as a cleverly constructed tract of anti-intellectual propaganda masquerading as scholarship.”

  6. Structure • Clear point of view and outline for essay • Provides overview of Algeny • Critique of Algeny presented on five fronts • Does not understand Darwinism • Little comprehension of what science is or how scientists work • Unfair argument • Ignores fair scholarship • Full of ludicrous, simple errors

  7. Style • Harsh and straightforward • Attempts to educate the reader (definitions) • References Rifkin’s points, then refutes or shows why they are inappropriate • Sentences varied • Addresses Rifkin by first name; reads sometimes as though Gould is speaking to Rifkin directly

  8. Questions • How effective is Gould’s critique given his directness? Does it come off as too strong, or is it appropriate? Is Gould fair in his treatment of Rifkin’s remarks? • Comparing Rifkin with Gould, it would appear Gould has more expertise on this topic. Does this make his critique more convincing or credible? • What effect does referencing Rifkin directly have on the essay?

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