Professors tell students: Drop class if you dispute man-made climate change
Three professors co-teaching an online course called “Medical Humanities in the Digital Age” at the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs recently told their students via email that man-made climate change is not open for debate, and those who think otherwise have no place in their course.
“The point of departure for this course is based on the scientific premise that human induced climate change is valid and occurring. We will not, at any time, debate the science of climate change, nor will the ‘other side’ of the climate change debate be taught or discussed in this course,” states the email, a copy of which was provided to The College Fix by a student in the course.
No, because denying that man-made climate change is happening is just that -- denial.
Re: Don't question the faith!
Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2016 5:15 am
by callmeslick
right, and the course wasn't about the psychosis around denial.
Re: Don't question the faith!
Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2016 7:14 am
by Jeff250
If you had a class on evolution, should you waste class time debating creationists? If you had a class on theology, should you waste class time debating atheists? I don't think that those classes are the proper forums for that kind of debate. A class on evolution or theology should be for people who already believe in evolution or God.
Re: Don't question the faith!
Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2016 7:21 am
by callmeslick
exactly, Jeff. There are, within the curriculum, other opportunities to participate in the debate of causation all one wishes, I'd be willing to bet. Certain subject matter is predicated on certain premises(generally widely accepted, but one can easily find extreme minority positions represented in some curricula).
Re: Don't question the faith!
Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2016 8:51 am
by woodchip
What would climate change have to do with "Medical Humanities in the Digital Age". That's like saying we won't discuss calculus in a fashion design course. I think the good profs said this to draw attention to their class as not enough people were signing up.
Re: Don't question the faith!
Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2016 8:54 am
by Ferno
callmeslick wrote:right, and the course wasn't about the psychosis around denial.
Indeed it's not. TB on the other hand, seems to believe that the scientific method is dead if they don't allow debate about a known phenomenon.
Re: Don't question the faith!
Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2016 10:54 am
by vision
woodchip wrote:What would climate change have to do with "Medical Humanities in the Digital Age". That's like saying we won't discuss calculus in a fashion design course.
Not quite. I read the syllabus, and while I think the class is kind of silly, acceptance of climate change is definitely required. Part of the class focuses on humans and our relationship to nature, how we are polluting the world, and the effects of that pollution on human health (and I'm assuming biological systems including ecology) in the context of modern versus historic medicine.