The Science of Why We Don’t Believe Science
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Re: The Science of Why We Don’t Believe Science
#2That's perhaps the most hilariously ironic first paragraph of an article I've ever read.
Re: The Science of Why We Don’t Believe Science
#3The Father Revealed in the Son
25 At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. 26 Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.
27 “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Re: The Science of Why We Don’t Believe Science
#4As my parents are getting older (nearing their 60s) it's being more difficult to talk about some subjects. They started believing all sorts of ridiculous stuff, even read Icke's books. It's hard to argue with someone who questions reason itself. It's even more difficult knowing they're teachers, well educated, liberal and open minded usually. They buy into the whole alternative medicine, all sorts of natural cures for cancer, even more bogus explanations about cancer causes. They believe this stuff even when it contradicts itself, how can you believe that cancer comes from high acid levels in the body or emotional conflicts, and then also be afraid of EM radiation? They believe in the sincerity and good intentions of people who publish this alternative material but they are extremely suspicious of "main-stream" science. Anyone having similar experience?
Re: The Science of Why We Don’t Believe Science
#5I think the bigger question this points to is the fact that all human perceptions are a mix of emotion and reason. As humans we seem to keep wanting to live in black and white - in a place where we can name and label the cause and effect of things.
As people who build software, we know how complexity explodes with each option - and people are complex in millions of facets. Combine a few people together, and you have intractable combinations of emotions and environmental factors. At some point you have to give up on 'exact' and just go with 'directionally correct'.
My wish would be that we could somehow find a way to loosen people's grip on "this is the right way and I've proven it." Scientists and alternative medicine, religious, the irreligious, etc. All seem to think that their brain was able to do what trillions of people before could not. I don't mean to say that there is no truth or 'right' in the universe, just that we are such imperfect measurement tools that we need to walk it out a bit more humbly.
It stands to reason that there's probably some good in the alternative medicine movement - since the goal is for people to feel better and get better. And apparently they are. And there's been good that comes from traditional medicine as we've seen.
One commenter on here was lamenting their parents alignment to some alternative medicine beliefs, stating "They believe this stuff even when it contradicts itself, " How ironic, because I think if you look in to any field there is a great deal of disagreement, and contradiction. You have people refuting and arguing in medical and science journals, both sides being convinced that they are 'correct'.
In many ways I think these behaviors are a symptom of a small-ish brain trying to collect and hold all the complexity of the world - and just failing spectacularly. Of course - we mix in some pride and arrogance, and we get what we've got now. :(
Re: The Science of Why We Don’t Believe Science
#6Somewhat oversimplifying, you can think of hierarchical individualists as akin to conservative Republicans, and egalitarian communitarians as liberal Democrats.
Somewhat? That's like saying that black is a dark colour like navy blue and white is more like royal blue.
Personally, I think the US would benefit by understanding just where in the overall spectrum they fit politically and how limited their "typical" options are.
Americans probably have the most limited options of any modern democracy on the planet, and yet most people think they are so different.
Re: The Science of Why We Don’t Believe Science
#7An article with that title should have mentioned the possibility of an error cascade. Occasionally - not often, but sometimes - the "consensus scientific view" on a subject happens to be wrong. Wrong views can persist for quite a while, and are more likely to do so when the subject is politically charged. Preference falsification even among scientists can lead them to a false belief regarding what their peers believe.
Here's a good discussion of error cascades in the context of climate change: http://esr.ibiblio.org/?p=1642
On the use of terms like 'deniers':
> "Sound theory doesn’t have to be buttressed by demonizing its opponents; it demonstrates itself with predictive success."
Re: The Science of Why We Don’t Believe Science
#8As my parents are getting older (nearing their 60s) it's being more difficult to talk about some subjects. They started believing all sorts of ridiculous stuff, even read Icke's books. It's hard to argue with someone who questions reason itself. It's even more difficult knowing they're teachers, well educated, liberal and open minded usually. They buy into the whole alternative medicine, all sorts of natural cures fo…
The irony in your comment is kicking me in the face through the computer screen.
Re: The Science of Why We Don’t Believe Science
#9As my parents are getting older (nearing their 60s) it's being more difficult to talk about some subjects. They started believing all sorts of ridiculous stuff, even read Icke's books. It's hard to argue with someone who questions reason itself. It's even more difficult knowing they're teachers, well educated, liberal and open minded usually. They buy into the whole alternative medicine, all sorts of natural cures fo…
The irony in your comment is kicking me in the face through the computer screen.
Please enlighten me.
Re: The Science of Why We Don’t Believe Science
#10Earlier quoted context omitted.
The irony in your comment is kicking me in the face through the computer screen.
Please enlighten me.
As per the article: You are not in anyway immune to the same processes that you are complaining your parents are beholden to.
Your views and experiences are reinforcing your own beliefs that your parents are not accepting the "facts" you know. Seeing one side as "unreasonable" to logic while your view is "obvious" is exactly the type of behaviour the article is attempting to underline.
The article also answers your question directly.