Schedule for the February 4, 2023 Meeting at Biola University, “In Defense of Truth”

The scientific enterprise has historically rested on the belief that objective truth can be found, or at least well approximated, with sufficient effort and care. The Christian world view also embraces this view. Yet in the past 100 years, our society has moved toward other views, which see this approach as a power play by Western European controlling classes. While these alternate approaches have mostly gotten traction in the social sciences and humanities, they are having increasing traction in the “hard” sciences, as seen, for example, at this link.

This meeting will examine both the concept of truth in general, as well as specific arguments on what is true in the scientific world.

All talks will be at the Biola University Business Building, Room 109. The meeting will also be webcast on Zoom. The schedule is below. To register for the meeting (and to get the webcast link), go to this registration page.

8:30 AM. Registration, coffee and bagels

9:00 AM Pacific Time (12:00 PM Eastern Time). SESSION 1: “Thinking about Truth”

9:00 AM. David Snoke, Distinguished Professor of Physics, University of Pittsburgh

“How did we get here? A brief overview of modernism, postmodernism, and post-post-modernism”

9:30 AM Q&A

9:40 AM. Daniel Hitchcock, Associate Professor of Psychology, Regent University

“Interpreting Truth: Schemata, Paradigms, and Worldviews”

10:30 AM Q&A

10:40 AM. Mihretu Guta, Adjunct Professor of Philosophy, Biola University

“Why Truth Matters in Scientific Pursuits ”

11:20 AM Q&A

11:30 AM Discussion and Lunch Break

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1:00 PM Pacific Time (4:00 PM Eastern Time). SESSION 2: “Case studies”

1:00 PM. Richard Jones, Professor of Physics, University of Connecticut

“Sometimes the majority is right: Evidence for the Big Bang”

1:40 PM. Q&A

1:50 PM Doug Axe, Maxwell Professor of Molecular Biology, Biola University

“Sometimes the majority is wrong: Evidence for intelligent design”

2:30 PM. Q&A

2:40 PM. Greg Shearer, Professor of Nutrition and Physiology, The Pennsylvania State University

“Do design hypotheses work as guides for scientific inquiry? My personal experience”

3:20 PM. Q&A

3:30 PM. Panel discussion with the speakers

Moderator: John Bloom, Professor of Physics, Biola University