The art of dissecting zombie science with small words and short sentences?

 A Celebrated Life: Colleagues Remember Dr. Jonathan Wells

Andrew McDiarmid

On this ID the Future, we bring you some remarks given at a recent gathering in Poulsbo, WA, to celebrate the life of biologist Dr. Jonathan Wells, who passed away in September 2024 at the age of 82. Dr. Wells was one of the first Fellows of Discovery Institute’s Center for Science and Culture. In 2000, he took the science world by storm with Icons of Evolution, a book showing how biology textbooks routinely promote Darwinism using bogus evidence — icons of evolution like Ernst Haeckel’s faked embryo drawings and peppered moths glued to tree trunks. Dr. Wells’s achievements in the field of biology are notable. In this episode you’ll get a glimpse into his life and character as well as his relentless search for scientific truth.

First to speak is Dr. John West, Managing Director of the CSC. West explains how Wells managed to be both brilliant AND understandable — no easy task! Following that you’ll hear from philosopher of biology Dr. Paul Nelson, who reminds us of the importance of wisdom and how Dr. Wells espoused it: “Second only to God himself is wisdom,” notes Nelson. “She is the queen of the physical world, and therefore the queen of science itself.” After that, Dr. Richard Sternberg takes the stage to share details of how his friendship with Wells impacted him personally and professionally. And then Dr. Casey Luskin wraps up these eulogies by giving the perspective of a student: one student among the many, “both current and former, who have learned the truth about evolution because of Jonathan’s work.” As he concludes, Luskin reminds all of us that it is our task to continue Jonathan’s quest to use grace, humor, and evidence-backed science to speak the truth into people’s lives. Download the podcast or listen to it here.

On the circular logic fallacy.

Spotting circular logic. According to GROK. 

The circular logic fallacy, also known as circular reasoning or begging the question, happens when an argument’s conclusion is assumed to be true within its own premises, creating a loop where no real evidence or reasoning is provided outside the circle. Essentially, the argument proves itself by restating the conclusion as a premise, rather than offering independent support for it.

Here’s how it works: In a valid argument, premises should lead to a conclusion through evidence or reasoning that stands on its own. In circular logic, the premise already contains the conclusion in disguise, so the argument doesn’t actually advance or prove anything—it just spins in place. It’s like saying, “I’m right because I’m right.”

For example:

"God exists because the Bible says so, and the Bible is true because it’s the word of God."

Here, the conclusion (God exists) relies on the premise (the Bible is true), but the premise’s truth is justified by assuming the conclusion (God’s existence) is already correct. The reasoning loops back on itself without offering external evidence—like, say, historical or scientific support—that could break the circle.

Another example:"This herbal supplement works because it’s effective, and it’s effective because it works."

This just repeats the same claim in different words, providing no real proof or explanation.

Circular logic often sneaks into debates where people lean on assumptions they don’t question, or when they’re trying to defend something without solid grounding. It’s a fallacy because it fails to justify the conclusion with anything beyond itself, leaving the argument empty. Spotting it helps you push for actual evidence instead of getting trapped in a rhetorical merry-go-round.

No college no problem II

 

No college no problem?