Many in science claim to be unfettered by anything that could be called orthodoxy. This is a special consideration when "scientists" (i.e., scientists who believe in naturalism) confront either "creationist" or "intelligent design" theorists (i.e., scientists who do not believe in naturalism, a.k.a. non-scientists or anti-scientists).

The recent furor over remarks made by Harvard Professor Larry Sommers are quite revealing when one thinks about it, and then connects it with something else. Sommers is being criticized for suggesting that innate differences between the sexes may explain why fewer women than men succeed in science and math careers. He also expressed some scepticism of the view that role discrimination plays any part in keeping female scientists and engineers from advancing at elite universities. Nancy Hopkins, MIT biology professor and Harvard graduate, walked out on Sommers' talk.

Presumably, Sommers was talking about certain theories based on some body of scholarly work which he had assembled for the discussion. Ostensibly, he was not talking about his own views.

Note what Hopkins says about her reason for walking out: "It is so upsetting that all these brilliant young women are being led by a man who views them this way." What is telling about Hopkins's explanation is that there is no indication that any research the Sommers may have had in mind, or even in hand, is false. In other words, facts do not matter to Hopkins; what matters to Hopkins is beliefs, or attitudes. On Hopkins's view Sommers commits the sin of holding the unorthodox belief that (1) there are innate differences between males and females and (2) these differences could account for the prevalence of males in math and science better than social factors do. It seems to matter very little whether there are any facts that would support, or even defeat, the assertion. What we have here is orthodox belief (i.e., the prevalence of males is due to social factors) versus unorthodox belief (i.e., the prevalence of males is due to innate differences between males and females). The actual truth doesn't matter. Facts are irrelevant.

Hopkins's problem with Sommers is not about what the facts are. No, she told Katie Couric that her problem is Sommers's attitude, his belief.

So, it is not that Sommers's facts are not wrong. His belief is. He has apologizied three times for daring to assert that a belief (that he does not share) may need to be given some consideration. This belief--that perhaps innate differences between males and females may account for the prevalence of males over females in math and science--is not rejected because it has been proven false. It is rejected because it does not square with what can only be, for Hopkins and her ilk, an orthodox doctrine.

You see, in order for this belief to have been proven false one of two conditions must hold: first, it must be proven that there are no innate differences between males and females; second, even if there are innate differences between males and females, this set of differences is wholly unrelated to the prevalence of males over females in math and sciences. But, as far as Hopkins and her ilk are concerned, the questions are not even allowed to be asked. Merely inquiring into the possibility is heterodox, and therefore not to be tolerated.

Hopkins is a biology professor, a scientist. So what we have here is a scientist with her own brand of orthodox belief. Hmmmmmm. I wonder how she feels about Intelligent Design theory. In some school districts across the nation, there are ongoing attempts to include some mention of intelligent design theory in science textbooks. In these jurisdictions, the A.C.L.U. and others have asserted that the teaching of intelligent design theory conflicts with the Constitution's separation of church and state. Most responses have tried to remind us all that the Constitution contains no such provision. Indeed, it does not. But there is a more serious issue.

Think of what the A.C.L.U. and others are ultimately saying. Let's assume (1) that Intelligent Design just happens to be true and, just for present purposes, (2) that the truth of Intelligent Design necessarily implies the faslity of (macro-) evolution. On the A.C.L.U.'s view, the Constitution, in effect, requires the teaching of falsity, because the truth in this matter by lending support to religion, conflicts with the Constitution's required separation of church and state. In other words, (macro-) evolution could continue to be taught, even though (in accordance with our two assumptions above) it is false, because even though it is false it does not conflict with the Constitution. Intelligent Design, however, would be prohibited from being taught, even though it is true, because the teaching of it would conflict with the doctrine of the separation of church and state.

I have long suggested, in my little spere of influence, that evolution is merely the non-theist's creation orthodoxy. Many, in my little spere, have ridiculed the idea that scientists have any beliefs that are orthodox and for the sake of which they reject conflicting beliefs out of hand. Thank you, Nancy Hopkins, for making it more believable that scientists do, in fact, have certain beliefs that are orthodox.