Thank you for this long and carefully-considered analysis of a phenomenon I was hardly aware of. People like me think that we know what "science" means, but reading your posts I have discovered that I have held onto ideas I acquired almost by osmosis over the years. Covid and the stupid signs about "science is real" helped me realize that I had not been paying attention. Maybe I don't know what I am talking about, either, but I don't put up signs advertising the fact. Very good reading, and thanks for it.
Thanks, Allen. Very encouraging. This subject is especially challenging because it banks on folks feeling stupid, ignorant, and incapable of assessing what's going on. Non-scientists and scientists alike are misled into believing that some sort of way of perfection is going on in the sciences that is beyond mortal comprehension; and therefore we must submit to its diktats. But science is in fact a human endeavour and a very limited one at that, full of errors and biases and corporate and political interests. It's essential we recognise this about science and ask for transparency and some actual humility in the discourse. Most importantly, we must start showing scepticism toward scientific claims and demand details regarding the studies and experiments that determine our ideas.
Well said! Some skepticism is in order. "Studies have shown," "recent work by XYZ at Yale," and so on, and all of a sudden we have a mandate for social change. I find that so much as raising an eyebrow about some scientific claims is enough to get people to think I am some kind of crank. What a world. Ask a question, and that is enough. Pope said, "At every word, a reputation dies." That was 1712. These days it takes little more.
The frivolity of the royal court, and the harm casual talk can do: (begin quote)
Hither the Heroes and the Nymphs resort,
To taste awhile the pleasures of a court; 10
In various talk th’ instructive hours they past,
Who gave the ball, or paid the visit last;
One speaks the glory of the British Queen,
And one describes a charming Indian screen;
A third interprets motions, looks, and eyes; 15
At every word a reputation dies.
Snuff, or the fan, supply each pause of chat,
With singing, laughing, ogling, and all that. (end) My favorite undergrad English prof was a Pope scholar. Without him I would never have understood any of The Rape of the Lock.
Thank you for this long and carefully-considered analysis of a phenomenon I was hardly aware of. People like me think that we know what "science" means, but reading your posts I have discovered that I have held onto ideas I acquired almost by osmosis over the years. Covid and the stupid signs about "science is real" helped me realize that I had not been paying attention. Maybe I don't know what I am talking about, either, but I don't put up signs advertising the fact. Very good reading, and thanks for it.
Thanks, Allen. Very encouraging. This subject is especially challenging because it banks on folks feeling stupid, ignorant, and incapable of assessing what's going on. Non-scientists and scientists alike are misled into believing that some sort of way of perfection is going on in the sciences that is beyond mortal comprehension; and therefore we must submit to its diktats. But science is in fact a human endeavour and a very limited one at that, full of errors and biases and corporate and political interests. It's essential we recognise this about science and ask for transparency and some actual humility in the discourse. Most importantly, we must start showing scepticism toward scientific claims and demand details regarding the studies and experiments that determine our ideas.
Well said! Some skepticism is in order. "Studies have shown," "recent work by XYZ at Yale," and so on, and all of a sudden we have a mandate for social change. I find that so much as raising an eyebrow about some scientific claims is enough to get people to think I am some kind of crank. What a world. Ask a question, and that is enough. Pope said, "At every word, a reputation dies." That was 1712. These days it takes little more.
Btw. What was the context of Pope's observation?
The frivolity of the royal court, and the harm casual talk can do: (begin quote)
Hither the Heroes and the Nymphs resort,
To taste awhile the pleasures of a court; 10
In various talk th’ instructive hours they past,
Who gave the ball, or paid the visit last;
One speaks the glory of the British Queen,
And one describes a charming Indian screen;
A third interprets motions, looks, and eyes; 15
At every word a reputation dies.
Snuff, or the fan, supply each pause of chat,
With singing, laughing, ogling, and all that. (end) My favorite undergrad English prof was a Pope scholar. Without him I would never have understood any of The Rape of the Lock.
Haven't read Rape of the Lock in an eon. Will reread!
Indeed! My ongoing joke since the lockdowns has been "Only stupid people ask questions. Smart people do what they're told."