William M. Briggs has a typically entertaining and incisive piece on the intrusion of emotional responses into science, or what purports to be science. The whole piece is well worth reading as the wider rejection of dispassionate analysis seems to be with us for the foreseeable future.
Science Is Becoming Feelings
Our constant prediction has been Official Science would spend increasing and inordinate time and energy on FEELINGS. Indeed, science would become, in good part, about feelings. Including the feelings of scientists towards other scientists who dare buck The Consensus (whatever the consensus might be in any field).
As proof of this, I bring you this story: “How anxiety over climate change affects students“...
Students ignorant about the physics of fluid flow over a differentially heated rotating sphere were asked about their, I quote, emotional responses to “climate change.” Which are worth as much as an empty soup can. Even less, because the can is metal and can be recycled for money. (This is also the Appeal to Non-Authority Fallacy, as detailed in the upcoming second edition of Everything You Believe Is Wrong. 22 November.)
In any case, these emotional responses were called The Science, and published as if they were science, or had any bearing on science.
Tell you one thing, though, before we continue. It’s that “feeling powerless” to change the weather is the accurate feeling. Get used to it, kiddies. You’ll find these feelings apply to a great many things in life. Nitwits, and more to the point midwits, who tell you do “Do [or imagine] the impossible” ought to be scorned.
Our constant prediction has been Official Science would spend increasing and inordinate time and energy on FEELINGS. Indeed, science would become, in good part, about feelings. Including the feelings of scientists towards other scientists who dare buck The Consensus (whatever the consensus might be in any field).
As proof of this, I bring you this story: “How anxiety over climate change affects students“...
Students ignorant about the physics of fluid flow over a differentially heated rotating sphere were asked about their, I quote, emotional responses to “climate change.” Which are worth as much as an empty soup can. Even less, because the can is metal and can be recycled for money. (This is also the Appeal to Non-Authority Fallacy, as detailed in the upcoming second edition of Everything You Believe Is Wrong. 22 November.)
In any case, these emotional responses were called The Science, and published as if they were science, or had any bearing on science.
Tell you one thing, though, before we continue. It’s that “feeling powerless” to change the weather is the accurate feeling. Get used to it, kiddies. You’ll find these feelings apply to a great many things in life. Nitwits, and more to the point midwits, who tell you do “Do [or imagine] the impossible” ought to be scorned.
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