William B. Provine in 2008 |
William B. Provine is an American historian of science and of evolutionary biology and population genetics. He is the Andrew H. and James S. Tisch Distinguished University Professor at Cornell University and is a professor in the Departments of History, Science and Technology Studies, and Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. He holds a B.S., M.A. and Ph.D from the University of Chicago.
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Provine was born in Tennessee and is an atheist and outspoken critic of intelligent design. He is well known for engaging in debates with theist philosophers and scientists about the existence of God and the viability of intelligent design. He has debated the founder of the intelligent design movement Phillip E. Johnson and the two have a friendly relationship. Provine has stated that he starts his course on evolutionary biology by getting his students to read Johnsons book Darwin on Trial.[1]
Provine is a hard determinist, rejecting the idea of free will.[2] Professor Provine appeared in Ben Stein's movie Expelled. Provine supervised the thesis written by Bad Religion member Greg Graffin. Graffin was a student of paleobiology at Cornell. Provine also supervised the sociology thesis of Steve Leveen in 1982. In 1970, Provine was instrumental in the founding of Cornell's Risley Residential College. He was the first faculty member in residence.