Welcome, Paul Nelson!
This week's guest contributor needs no introduction--he introduced himself quite nicely at the Great Expectations conference in Tuscany. But for those of you with a taste for formality--and you, too, are welcome under Ricochet's big tent--here's his bio:
Paul A. Nelson received his Ph.D. from the University of Chicago Department of Philosophy. His thesis critiques aspects of macroevolutionary theory in light of recent developments in embryology and developmental biology. Entitled On Common Descent, it will be published in the University of Chicago Department of Ecology and Evolution's "Evolutionary Monographs" series (and the first in this prestigious series to critique neo-Darwinism). He is currently collaborating with Stephen Meyer and William Dembski on a book formulating a scientific theory of biological design. He has written several articles on the philosophical aspects of evolutionary biology including one recently published in Biology and Philosophy. He edits the journal Origins & Design.
I didn't write that bio. You can guess that I didn't, because I remain vigilant against the horror of the use of "critique" as a verb. But apart from that, I believe it's accurate. Isn't it, Paul?
Anyway, Paul will be here all week to contribute, answer your questions and respond to your comments. Since Paul's new, and new people often don't realize that conversations on Ricochet, like the fossil record, tend to lack transitional forms, you may wish to re-post your earlier questions for him under this post or his subsequent ones--that way you can be sure he'll see them.
Welcome, Paul! This should be an interesting week. We're so glad to have you.
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Re: Welcome, Paul Nelson!
Thanks, Claire. I'll be happy to contribute here occasionally, as long as I don't scare readers away, or annoy them.
The bio you posted is a few years' old, and I didn't write it (some PR staffer at Discovery Institute did), but at the time it was accurate. Readers can see a more recent bio by clicking on my name / byline, next to the "The C Word" post. The monograph on common descent, mentioned in the older bio, is still under submission at the Evolutionary Monograph series, but the editor (and my friend) Leigh Van Valen, died last October. So publication is delayed.
"Critique" is listed as a transitive verb in my Random House desk dictionary -- "to review or analyze critically" -- but I don't much like the word used that way either.
Re: Welcome, Paul Nelson!
Paul Nelson, Guest Contributor:
"Critique" is listed as a transitive verb in my Random House desk dictionary -- "to review or analyze critically" -- but I don't much like the word used that way either. · Jun 18 at 5:42am
I fully accept that language evolves. Not always for the better, however.
Sep '10
Re: Welcome, Paul Nelson!
Claire Berlinski, Ed.
Paul Nelson, Guest Contributor:
"Critique" is listed as a transitive verb in my Random House desk dictionary -- "to review or analyze critically" -- but I don't much like the word used that way either. · Jun 18 at 5:42am
I fully accept that language evolves. Not always for the better, however. · Jun 18 at 6:22am
A fellow prescriptivist. Thank goodness!
May '10
Re: Welcome, Paul Nelson!
Welcome aboard.
Oct '10
Re: Welcome, Paul Nelson!
Welcome, Paul. And, thank you for your work.
Mar '11
Re: Welcome, Paul Nelson!
Welcome to Ricochet! Glad to have you here, even if you are a sacrilegious creationist ;).
Oct '10
Re: Welcome, Paul Nelson!
Welcome, Dr. Nelson, and thank you for your contributions!
Unsurprisingly, I find myself in agreement with Claire: when someone uses "critique" as a verb, I assume they're merely too pretentious to say "criticize."