Evolution KoreaThe financial crisis that hit Asia caused a major review of the old system of government and business alliances, as well as public management of risk. In Korea this meant a change in the development paradigm.
In a controversial decision, the South Korean government has requested textbooks publishers to ignore calls for the removal of examples of evolution in science texts for high school students. This includes the evidence for the evolution of horses and the bird ancestor Archaeopteryx.
1. Evolution and Religion
A creationist group from South Korea has successfully convinced textbook publishers to exclude evidence of evolution from science textbooks for high school students. The Society for Textbook Revise, an independent offshoot from the Korea Association for Creation Research which aims to rid biology textbooks of "atheist materialism," was behind the move. The STR claims that this kind of materialistic thinking creates a negative picture for students and leads to their eventual loss of faith.
When the STR's ad campaign made the news, scientists around the globe expressed concern. In a letter addressed to the editor of Nature the evolutionary biologist Jae Choe at Ewha Womans University in Seoul complained that South Korea had given in to religious prejudice. He was backed up by colleagues from across the country, who set up an organization called Evolution Korea to organize a petition against the changes to the textbooks.
Researchers are worried that the STR campaign will be spread to other parts of the world where the belief in creationism is on the rise. The letter to Nature warned of the anti-evolution movement putting more pressure on textbook revisions, particularly in countries with large Christian and Muslim populations.
South Korea's culture is particularly strong for the debate on evolution. 26 percent of South Koreans belong to of a religious group, with the majority practicing Christianity or Buddhism. In addition, a lot of Koreans adhere to the philosophy of Ch'ondogyo. It is based on Confucian principles that emphasizes social harmony and personal self-cultivation. Ch'ondogyo teaches the human being is one with Hanulnim, the God of Sun and that heavenly blessings are possible through the good works of one's.
All of this has created a fertile field. Numerous studies have revealed that students with religious backgrounds to be more uncomfortable learning about evolution than those who don't. The underlying causes are not obvious. One possible explanation is that students with religious beliefs tend to be as knowledgeable about scientific theories and concepts, which makes them more susceptible to the influence of creationists. Another possibility is that students with religious beliefs are more likely to see evolution as a religious concept and therefore less at ease with it.
2. Evolution and Science
In recent times, the scientific community has been concerned about anti-evolution efforts in schools. A survey conducted in 2009 revealed that nearly 40% of Americans believed that biological evolution was a myth and that it could conflict with their religious beliefs. Many scientists believe that despite the popularity of creationism, the best way to combat this movement is to educate the public on the evidence that supports evolution.
Scientists are required to teach their students about science, including the theory of evolution. They must also educate the public on the process of scientific research and the way in which knowledge is confirmed. They must also explain that scientific theories are frequently challenged and re-examined. However, misunderstandings regarding the nature of research conducted by scientists often fuel anti-evolution beliefs.
For instance, some people may confuse the word "theory" with the everyday meaning of the word - a hunch or a guess. In the field of science, however, the hypothesis is tested thoroughly, and empirical data is used to confirm it. A theory that is tested and observed repeatedly is then a scientific principle.
The debate about evolution theory is an excellent occasion to discuss both the importance of scientific method and its limits. It is important to be aware that science does not answer questions about life's purpose or meaning, but instead allows living things to develop and evolve.
Furthermore, a comprehensive education must include exposure to all the major scientific fields that include evolutionary biology. This is important because many jobs and decisions require individuals understand the way science works.
The majority of scientists around the world agree that humans have changed over time. In a recent study, which predicted adults' views of the consensus on this topic people with higher levels of education and knowledge of science were found to be more likely believe that there is wide agreement among scientists about the evolution of humans. Those who have more religious beliefs and have less knowledge of science are more likely to disapprove. It is crucial that teachers insist on the importance of knowing the general consensus on this issue to ensure that individuals are able to making informed decisions regarding their health care, energy use and other issues of policy.
3. Evolution and Culture
Cultural evolution is a cousin of the popular evolutionary theory. It examines how humans and other organisms learn from one another. Researchers in this field employ explanatory tools and investigative models adapted from evolutionary theorists and reach back to prehistoric times to determine the origins of culture.
This method also acknowledges the difference between cultural and biological traits. Cultural traits are acquired slowly, whereas biological traits are usually acquired at the same time (in the case of sexual species after fertilization). The acquisition of one cultural characteristic can influence the growth and development of another.
In Korea, the adoption of Western style elements in the latter part of the nineteenth and early 20th century was the result of an elaborate sequence of events. One of the most important was the arrival in Korea of Japanese occupation forces who introduced Western hairstyles and clothing.
After that, when Japan left Korea in the 1930s, a few of these trends began change. At the close of World War II, Korea was once again united, this time under the rule of the Choson dynasty.
Today, Korea is a vibrant political and economic power. Despite the current global financial crisis, the economy of Korea has been growing steadily over the past decade and is poised to continue its healthy growth in the near future.
The current government is confronted with many challenges. The inability of the government to come up with a coherent strategy to address the current economic crisis is one the biggest challenges. The crisis has revealed the shortcomings of the country's economic policies, mainly its overreliance on foreign investment and exports that may not be sustainable over the long term.
The financial crisis has shaken the confidence of investors. As a result, the government has to reconsider its strategy and come up with other ways to boost the domestic demand. It also needs to overhaul the incentive monitoring, monitoring, and discipline systems that are currently in place to ensure the stability of the financial system. This chapter presents several scenarios for how the Korean economy could grow in a post-crisis environment.
4. Evolution and Education
The challenge for teachers of evolution is to teach evolutionary concepts that are appropriate for different levels of development and ages.