Scientific Heresy

Skybird · 02-06-12, 06:37 PM

I am stressing the need for scientific methodology and rationality quite often, don't I. However, I made it clear repeatedly that I have tight and strict criterions for what qualifies as science and scientific work, and what not, and in this context have criticised my own former branch, psychology, repeatedly in various contexts. I also referred to Karl Popper's criticism of socalled pseudo-science, although I am aware that his thoughts on the issue are not without opposition in public debate.

Last year, a guy named Matt Ridley, whom I never heared of but who seems to be a high-profiled science publicists in Britain, held the 2011 Angus Millar Lecture at the the Royal Society of Arts in Edinburgh, entitled "Scientific Heresy". I found this to be a thankful reading when I found the German translation earlier today, and a needed and useful warning to cold-blooded rationalists like myself that even the claimed scientific categories and methods need to be counter-tested and re-checked time and again, to reduce the risk of pseudo-science taking over truly scientific ground.

On the more specific issue of global warming that he also touches upon, I currently do not comment, since even when we had several indices in the past five years or so that the worst case scenarios we concluded on maybe do not adequately reflect future trends, these indices are just hints currently and it is too early to u-turn on my former basic opinion on global warming. I just take a very close and serious note of his comments on how the climate of fear being created benefits certain profiteers, since this is something i have already noted myself, too, since long before I read this lecture. Reason for that state of alarm on my side is certain innerpolitical issues here in Germany, where obviously lobbyistic policies have made policy-makers to try implementing costly policies that serve certain business branches but are badly founded in argument and cost the general public and house owners plenty of money that gets transferred to said business players.

However, a very good and intelligent lecture that I really recommend to read. An audio-stream to listen too instead of reading it can be found here.

http://www.bishop-hill.net/blog/2011...ic-heresy.html

02-06-12, 06:37 PM	#1
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 42,612 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	Scientific Heresy I am stressing the need for scientific methodology and rationality quite often, don't I. However, I made it clear repeatedly that I have tight and strict criterions for what qualifies as science and scientific work, and what not, and in this context have criticised my own former branch, psychology, repeatedly in various contexts. I also referred to Karl Popper's criticism of socalled pseudo-science, although I am aware that his thoughts on the issue are not without opposition in public debate. Last year, a guy named Matt Ridley, whom I never heared of but who seems to be a high-profiled science publicists in Britain, held the 2011 Angus Millar Lecture at the the Royal Society of Arts in Edinburgh, entitled "Scientific Heresy". I found this to be a thankful reading when I found the German translation earlier today, and a needed and useful warning to cold-blooded rationalists like myself that even the claimed scientific categories and methods need to be counter-tested and re-checked time and again, to reduce the risk of pseudo-science taking over truly scientific ground. On the more specific issue of global warming that he also touches upon, I currently do not comment, since even when we had several indices in the past five years or so that the worst case scenarios we concluded on maybe do not adequately reflect future trends, these indices are just hints currently and it is too early to u-turn on my former basic opinion on global warming. I just take a very close and serious note of his comments on how the climate of fear being created benefits certain profiteers, since this is something i have already noted myself, too, since long before I read this lecture. Reason for that state of alarm on my side is certain innerpolitical issues here in Germany, where obviously lobbyistic policies have made policy-makers to try implementing costly policies that serve certain business branches but are badly founded in argument and cost the general public and house owners plenty of money that gets transferred to said business players. However, a very good and intelligent lecture that I really recommend to read. An audio-stream to listen too instead of reading it can be found here. http://www.bishop-hill.net/blog/2011...ic-heresy.html __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert.