I firmly believe that science isn't perfect, but without it, the human mind is even worse at getting at the truth of anything. Science is the only tool that helps us eventually work past our biases, poor logic, and anecdotal evidence so that we may make progress in this world. It's not perfect - it is practiced by scientists who are human and so guilty of the same biases and faulty logic. But as a process, over time, and when done well, scientists provide checks and balances against each other which weeds out these flaws. And the net result is amazing progress.
Vaccine-autism claims, "Frankenfood" bans, the herbal cure craze: All point to the public's growing fear (and, often, outright denial) of science and reason, says Michael Specter. Here he warns the trend spells disaster for human progress.
Michael Specter is a staff writer for the New Yorker. His new book, Denialism, asks why we have increasingly begun to fear scientific advances instead of embracing them.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
The Danger of Science Denial
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1 comment:
I firmly agree with the need for science and reason at a time when, at least in this country, we seem to be moving in the exact opposite direction.
I don't think that you have necessarily done so but I would say however, that we should not simply discount all ideas that are not based on western science. Obviously science is an imperfect process and what we believe as scientific fact today is only so because it has not yet been disproven although there is nothing to say that will be the case tomorrow. In particular, there are still many aspects of the mind and body that are not well understood and what might be considered "alternative medicine" may in fact be as or more effective as current science.
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