From Science in America
Leading up to the March for Science, Neil deGrasse Tyson is one of the prominent scientists who have spoken up against the threat to informed democracy, from political leaders who promote the denial of science. This is ultimately the denial of reality.
Science is a way of observing and learning about objective realities.
It falls if people are dishonest or incompetent.
Many scientific institutions have become “captive agencies” to political/business interests. The ‘science’ they feed out is biased by poor design and passed through a slanted system of peer review.
For example Dr. Richard Horton, Editor-in-chief of the Lancet wrote:
“Much of the scientific literature, perhaps half, may simply be untrue. Afflicted by studies with small sample sizes, tiny effects, invalid exploratory analyses, and flagrant conflicts of interest, together with an obsession for pursuing fashionable trends of dubious importance, SCIENCE HAS TAKEN A TURN TOWARDS DARKNESS.”
Similarly: DR. MARCIA ANGELL is a physician and was longtime Editor-in-Chief of the New England Medical Journal (NEMJ), considered to be another one of the most prestigious peer-reviewed medical journals in the world. Dr Angell stated,
“It is simply no longer possible to believe much of the clinical research that is published, or to rely on the judgment of trusted physicians or authoritative medical guidelines. I take no pleasure in this conclusion, which I reached slowly and reluctantly over my two decades as an editor of the New England Journal of Medicine.”
Science, a good method of finding objective truth has now often become the disguise of many wolves in sheep’s clothing to sell lies promoting various products or businesses. That people are looking at reality for themselves and coming to their own conclusions is a great thing, it takes the dishonesty out of the equation and competence can increase with practice. Observing and thinking for one’s self is the natural human function, it should be encouraged.
REALITY SPEAKS TRUE
POLITICIANS AND INDUSTRIES QUOTING SCIENCE SELDOM DO
David, some interesting quotes, and some valid points, but a just providing some quotes falls short of painting the entire picture. Peer review isn’t perfect, and we know this, & just be careful you don’t subscribe to the ‘science has been wrong before fallacy’.