ID the Future Intelligent Design, Evolution, and Science Podcast
Author

John G. West

InhumaneZoos2

John West and Michael Medved Talk Human Zoos and Racism

This episode of ID the Future features an interview with filmmaker John West on the Michael Medved show, about West’s recent documentary Human Zoos: America’s Forgotten History of Scientific Racism, now streaming on YouTube. Medved and West explore the tragic story of Ota Benga, and the prominent role that the Bronx Zoo, the pro-Darwinian scientific establishment, and the New York Times, played in that tragedy. As West explains, there are lessons here about the danger of letting the voices of “science” confuse our grasp of moral truth. Please consider donating to support the IDTF Podcast.

C.S. Lewis & Science: An Interview With Dr. John West, Part 1

On this episode of ID the Future from the vault, David Boze talks about the book The Magician’s Twin: C. S. Lewis on Science, Scientism, and Society with the editor of the book, Dr. John West. Boze and Dr. West discuss how some have tried to construe C.S. Lewis’ views in order to make them benefit their own, as well as Lewis’ views on Darwinism and intelligent design.

Read More ›
InhumaneZoos2

The Dangers of Totalitarian Science: Pt. 2

On this episode of ID the Future we hear part two of a panel discussion on “The Danger of Totalitarian Science,” held at the July 2018 FreedomFest in Las Vegas. This discussion followed a screening there of the film Human Zoos, written and directed by Dr. John West. In this second episode, Discovery Institute Senior Fellow George Gilder raises concerns about artificial intelligence — but not the usual economic ones. He’s more concerned about the thinking underlying some of the more ambitious attempts at AI — and how it would tend to turn the whole world into one very large yet confining human zoo.

The Dangers of Totalitarian Science: Pt. 1

On this episode of ID the Future we hear the first part of a panel discussion from FreedomFest 2018, where John West and Richard Weikart speak on “The Danger of Totalitarian Science.” Science is a great blessing, but like all exercises of human reason and creativity, it can be abused. When science is considered the only route to knowledge, scientific experts are given the right to rule, and science becomes totalitarian. It happened decades ago, as documented in Discovery Institute’s film Human Zoos. But don’t think it’s all in the past. As the panelists explain, totalitarian science remains with us today.

InhumaneZoos2

When the American Museum of Natural History Promoted Eugenics

This episode of ID the Future could have been titled Nightmare at the Museum. In this episode, Discovery Institute’s John West introduces listeners to a shocking chapter of American history, drawing from his new documentary, Human Zoos: America’s Forgotten History of Scientific Racism. Learn of a time when this cherished American museum promoted Darwinian-inspired efforts to breed a master race. To learn more visit the film website, HumanZoos.org.

Read More ›
ptbarnum

Empowerment or Exploitation? P.T. Barnum and the “Man Monkey”

On this episode of ID the Future, CSC Associate Director John West exposes the darker side of P.T. Barnum. Maybe you’ve watched The Greatest Showman – but have you heard of Barnum’s “What Is It?” exhibit? Listen in for more about racist displays of human “freaks” and how the science of the day endorsed Social Darwinism. For more, watch the newly released documentary, Human Zoosand visit HumanZoos.org. Please consider donating to support the IDTF Podcast.

Read More ›
otabenga

1906: Scientists Cage Man in Zoo Monkey House

On this episode of ID the Future, John West shares about pygmy Ota Benga, put on display in 1906 in the Bronx Zoo’s monkey house. Listen in to learn about how the New York Times, scientists, and ministers responded. Was Benga the only one treated like this? For more, watch the newly released documentary, Human Zoos, and visit HumanZoos.org.

Read More ›
Louisiana flag.jpg
Louisiana state of United States flag waving on the top sunrise mist fog
Image Credit: Oleksii - Adobe Stock

The Tenth Anniversary of the Louisiana Science Education Act — and Why It Matters

On this episode of ID the Future, host Sarah Chaffee talks with Center for Science and Culture co-founder Dr. John West about the Louisiana Science Education Act, passed ten years ago this week. Dr. West explains why it mattered then for academic freedom, how it’s stood up to criticism in the ten years since then, and why it matters today — including the example it sets for other states as well-crafted, resilient, and science-friendly legislation, that even the ACLU has recognized it needs to support!

IDTF-thumbnail
IDTF-thumbnail

John West and Jerry Bowyer’s Revolutionary Talk, Pt. 2

On this episode of ID the Future, podcaster and Forbes contributor Jerry Bowyer concludes a conversation with John West about the intelligent design documentary film Revolutionary. They discuss German paleontologist Günter Bechly, who changed his mind about Darwinism after reading a book by the main protagonist of the film, Michael Behe. West also shares a fascinating postscript to that story. And West and Bowyer go on to discuss an upcoming Discovery Institute film, Human Zoos, which explores Darwin-inspired scientific racism in the early 20th century.

Read More ›
IDTF-thumbnail
IDTF-thumbnail

“Revolutionary Behe”: Part One of A Conversation Between Jerry Bowyer and John West on Discovery Institute Documentary on Michael Behe

Jerry Bowyer of the Bowyer Briefing interviews Discovery Institute’s John West about a recent documentary on the work of biochemist Michael Behe. Behe’s Darwin’s Black Box introduced the public to the wonders of biochemical machinery, and set materialist science on a frantic search to refute his theory of irreducible complexity, leading to a conclusion of intelligent design. It’s a search that’s failed in many ways since then, as the documentary reveals — and this discussion explains as well.