My Textbook Challenge

[AV1611VET]

Okay, it's been awhile since I issued a good challenge to the academic world.

So let's do one, shall we?

Here is a picture of a Harvard science textbook, available in their bookstore:

If you take a molecular biology course that uses this textbook, will you be judged by what is written therein?

 

[BCP1928]

You will be judged by whether you understand what is written in it. If all you can do is parrot it back you will not do well, and may even fail.

 

[Gene2memE]

If you take a molecular biology course that uses this textbook, will you be judged by what is written therein?

No. You'll be judged by how well you understand the concepts and details of molecular biology and how well you demonstrate this in assignments, examinations, labs/practicals, tutorials, course work and other assessments.

If you're taking the Harvard 'Molecular and Cell Biology' course you could just as likely use any well regarded and up-to-date molecular biology/cell biology text book in order to study to meet the requirements of the course.

It will just be fundamentally less convenient/more bothersome for the student than using the assigned/recommended text book (because the course structure is likely to mirror the assigned text). You also might get some shade from the prof/lecturer.

Back in the early 2000s I managed to get though second year international macroeconomics without a copy of the textbook (campus bookstore had sold out). It was a pain in the proverbial and I had to spend a lot of extra time in the library, but it was manageable.

These days I'd probably just jolly roger a copy online.

 

[AV1611VET]

You will be judged by whether you understand what is written in it. If all you can do is parrot it back you will not do well, and may even fail.

???

 

[AV1611VET]

No. You'll be judged by how well you understand the concepts and details of molecular biology and how well you demonstrate this in assignments, examinations, labs/practicals, tutorials, course work and other assessments.

And if I deviate in my assignments, examinations, labs/practicals, tutorials, course work and other assignments, I'll be judged accordingly.

Is this correct?

 

[jacks]

If you take a molecular biology course that uses this textbook, will you be judged by what is written therein?

Yes. (Unless of course the instructor says something like "Page 93 has an error, so disregard this portion.") Otherwise if it is like the numerous courses I've taken, the text book basically becomes the Bible for the class.

 

[BCP1928]

Deviater from what? You seem to think that nothing will be required but rote memorization. I taught freshman math for a while with a textbook which had a couple of fairly complex problems with mistakes in them which made an unequivocal answer impossible. I always set those problems for homework (and sometimes put similar ones in the test) because I expected students to tell me why the problems were wrong, Passive acceptance is not wanted at the college level. (Except, I suppose, at the college you went to).

 

[BCP1928]

Yes. (Unless of course the instructor says something like "Page 93 has an error, so disregard this portion.") Otherwise if it is like the numerous courses I've taken, the text book basically becomes the Bible for the class.

I am very sorry to hear that, though I imagine it must go on. (Hopefully, your professors didn't regard the text as literal and inerrant, as some Christians regard the Bible)

 

[AV1611VET]

Yes. (Unless of course the instructor says something like "Page 93 has an error, so disregard this portion.") Otherwise if it is like the numerous courses I've taken, the text book basically becomes the Bible for the class.

I've been through that too.

Except in high school!

Same concept though.

 

[jacks]

I am very sorry to hear that, though I imagine it must go on. (Hopefully, your professors didn't regard the text as literal and inerrant, as some Christians regard the Bible)

Basically they did, unless as I noted there was a mistake that they had found. If you deviated from what the text said, you'd better have had a very good explanation.

 

[AV1611VET]

I am very sorry to hear that, though I imagine it must go on. (Hopefully, your professors didn't regard the text as literal and inerrant, as some Christians regard the Bible)

Amazing how it becomes literal on the final though.

 

[Warden_of_the_Storm]

What's your point?

 

[BCP1928]

What's your point?

No doubt the usual one, that science is nothing but an anti-Christian ideology.

 

[Maria Billingsley]

Okay, it's been awhile since I issued a good challenge to the academic world.

So let's do one, shall we?

Here is a picture of a Harvard science textbook, available in their bookstore:

View attachment 368484

If you take a molecular biology course that uses this textbook, will you be judged by what is written therein?

I'm no biologist but logic tells me there are basic principles to learn first ( like any other discipline) then you can break out on your own with new discoveries while maintaining the foundational concepts. There is always room for sound correction in the world of science.

Edit: After reading other posts I realize this is a hypothetical comparative to the Bible?
Okay, the same principle stands with one caveat, you don't have to believe what you read.

Blessings

 

[2PhiloVoid]

And if I deviate in my assignments, examinations, labs/practicals, tutorials, course work and other assignments, I'll be judged accordingly.

Is this correct?

Right. But your non-deviation expresses all those 'works' that need to come with your faith in the textbook and in the teacher.

But let's also cut to the chase here: when I read Revelation 20:12, I don't think there's enough information in this prophetic narrative to indicate which books exactly we'll be judged by, only that we'll be judged by some kind of heavenly accountant's books. I don't think those books by any necessity refer to any other biblical books themselves, and as to their actual nature, they remain, in my view, underdetermined. They could just be symbolic of Divine Memory.

And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds.​

​

However, if you think those books at the end of Revelation refer instead to both Testaments as written, then I can't stop you from doing so.

 

[AV1611VET]

Edit: After reading other posts I realize this is a hypothetical comparative to the Bible?

Yes, indeed.

 

[AV1611VET]

However, if you think those books at the end of Revelation refer instead to both Testaments as written,

I do.

 

[2PhiloVoid]

I do.

Be that as it may, at least we both agree on the essential, underlying principle of the Final Judgment. (i.e. we're going to be judged, which should be a sobering reminder to us each day, especially if and when we go astray).

 

[DamianWarS]

Okay, it's been awhile since I issued a good challenge to the academic world.

So let's do one, shall we?

Here is a picture of a Harvard science textbook, available in their bookstore:

View attachment 368484

If you take a molecular biology course that uses this textbook, will you be judged by what is written therein?

in a vacuum the book may be regarded as authoritative (but then so can anything else). Outside of the vacuum, it has no authoritative guarantee and is subject to academic scrutiny. Because it is a book on the physical sciences, any judgment is limited to the context of the book based on the information as it presents it. Judgment outside this context (like moral or spiritual judgment) would be inappropriate. But scholastically speaking, the book is only an authority inasmuch as the instructor/governing body allows it to be, and discretionary or even contradictory judgment may be widely employed.

 

[AV1611VET]

But scholastically speaking, the book is only an authority inasmuch as the instructor/governing body allows it to be, and discretionary or even contradictory judgment may be widely employed.

I would assume -- (as I assume you would too) -- that the questions on the final would be based on the information found within the pages of that textbook.

Any field work or practice sets or information supplied outside the information contained in the book does not apply to this challenge thread.