Steven Dutch

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'''Steven Dutch''' is a professor of Natural and Applied Sciences at the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay.

He makes several convincing refutations of [[Luddite]]s/technophobes, stating that their arguments against [[science]] as a method of reasoning and technology as a method of advancement can be divided into 9 fields:

#Science and technology are out of control.
#Science and technology force workers into degrading and monotonous jobs.
#Technology forces people to consume unnecessary goods and services.
#Science and technology place decision-making in the hands of a technocratic elite.
#Science and technology cut man off from the natural world.
#Science and technology make man superficial.
#Technology creates worse problems than it solves.
#Science and technology restrict freedom.
#The scientific [[worldview]] robs the world of mystery and beauty.

Here, he responds to a critique of each one.<ref name=antisci>[https://web.archive.org/web/20021220142221/http://www.uwgb.edu/DutchS/PSEUDOSC/AntiSci70.HTM Anti-Science of the 1960's and 1970's]</ref> He largely focuses on rejecting the superficiality and simplicity posited by people such as Jacques Ellul and L. S. Stavrianos, stating that it is easier to blame the choices brought about by technology than to face the questions the choices raise.

One theme that is consistent throughout his website is his criticism of both [[creationism]]/[[intelligent design]] along with [[theist]]s supportive of that, ''and'' of [[atheists]] critical of [[religion]]. He claims that [[Richard Dawkins]] is utterly ignorant of [[theology]], and states that there is no proof that an [[infinite regress]] is impossible. He claims that Dawkins' critique of religion is unjustified, as both [[natural selection]] and [[deity|deities]] are self-explaining.<ref name=stupidsci>http://www.uwgb.edu/dutchs/PSEUDOSC/StupidSci.HTM</ref> He also criticizes [[Bertrand Russell]] for "blaming science for the barrenness of his own personal philosophy [agnosticism]".<ref name=antisci /> Based on his support of [[evolution]] and membership in the Affiliation of Christian Geologists at Wheaton University<ref>http://www2.wheaton.edu/ACG/about.html#officers</ref> it appears that Dutch is a [[Christian]] who supports [[theistic evolution]], which explains his stance. 

Dutch has also criticized the [[9-11 conspiracy theories|9/11 truth movement]], noting that [[physics]] adequately explains how the buildings fell. He also argues that if the American government had been able to perpetrate the attacks, they probably would have been able to fake the presence of [[WMD]]s in Iraq.<ref>[http://www.uwgb.edu/dutchs/pseudosc/911nutphysics.htm Nutty 9-11 Physics]</ref>

He has further argued science cannot establish [[miracle]]s (wrongly saying [[David Hume]] claimed ''no'' testimony can establish any miracles, when in fact he said testimony could, it just would have to be more miraculous than if it were false), but also says science can't ''disprove'' miracles, presumably thinking it salvages his religion. What evidence he thinks exists to support the Resurrection, for instance, isn't said. Worse, he commits a [[special pleading]] fallacy near the end by first saying the fact most [[UFO]] sightings have been explained by fraud or mistaking natural phenomena warrants believing that none are true, but then attacks Hume for much the same reasoning against miracles, relying on a [[Strawman argument|strawman]] version of Hume's argument to do this.<ref>http://www.uwgb.edu/dutchs/PSEUDOSC/WhyNoMiracles.HTM</ref>

==References==
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Categories: Scientists, Educators, Living people, Christians