Talking Back to Goliath: Some Advice for Students in the Evolutionary Biology Classroom

A student in David Barash's animal-behavior class at the University of Washington might feel a bit like David facing Goliath -- even though Goliath, in this case, happens to be named David. Goliath occupies the podium at the front of the class, holds the professorship, and has the authority of the scientific community (apparently, anyway) on his side.

And, like the biblical Goliath, he is confidently outspoken when he delivers what Barash in this past Sunday's NY Times called "The Talk." Wes...