TED talk: Michael Specter: The danger of science denial

[n2doc]

About this talk
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. He warns the trend spells disaster for human progress.

About Michael Specter
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.

Video at link

http://www.ted.com/talks/michael_specter_the_danger_of_science_denial.html


Lots of discussion on this one, pretty polarizing.....

Two quotes lifted from the comments

"Be sceptical, ask questions, demand proof. Demand evidence. Don't take anything for granted. But here is the thing: When you get proof, you need to accept the proof. And we're not that good at doing that."


"You know, science isn't a company. It's not a country. It's not even an idea. It's a process. It's a process. And sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't. But the idea that we should not allow science to do its job because we're afraid, is really very deadening and it prevents millions of people from prospering."

[RaleighNCDUer]

1. re the second quote - properly done science ALWAYS works.

It just doesn't always give you the answers you expect.

[n2doc]

2. Nor always the answers you are looking for

Many times, one sets out to conduct an experiment, with all rigor, but an unexpected or unknown aspect of the system confounds the experimental plan. Then one has to go back and try again.

[pokerfan]

3. couple of quotes

"In science it often happens that scientists say, 'You know that's a really good argument; my position is mistaken,' and then they actually change their minds and you never hear that old view from them again. They really do it. It doesn't happen as often as it should because scientists are human and change is sometimes painful. But it happens every day. I cannot recall the last time something like that happened in politics or religion." (Carl Sagan)

"The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new discoveries, is not 'Eureka!' (I found it!) but 'That's funny...'" (Isaac Asimov)