Suppression of Science Within Science

[selfishgene]

Lomborg’s text employs the strategy of those who . . . argue that gay men aren't dying of AIDS, that Jews weren't singled out by the Nazis for extermination. So global-warming denialism is as much beyond the pale as AIDS denialism. Except that - and perhaps you’ve noticed - Duesberg has never denied that AIDS exists, he just has a different

Comments

[madfilkentist]

I simply don't understand how Duesberg can still be arguing that HIV doesn't cause AIDS. While I know nothing about medical science, I'd expect that if there were no causal connection, others would have started noticing by now. I haven't seen anything to warrant doubting the orthodox position.

It's true that science has its orthodoxies. Peer pressure can be an even bigger factor than government money in stifling dissent. "Denialist" is the modern word for "heretic," in every way; both denote someone who rejects a well-established position, and both carry the connotation of sin. In many cases people don't even realize they're being biased, as they throw out data which is inconsistent with their theories as "experimental error."

In areas where I don't have enough knowledge to judge, I have to incline myself toward what I judge are the more trustworthy opinions, but I also don't pretend I'm entitled to ridicule the dissenters.

[selfishgene]

I have strong opinions about AGW - its junk science. Climategate is showing what I already suspected.
I don't think Duesberg is right, but he is a real scientist not a know-nothing crackpot. He should not be ridiculed for having a different opinion.
On the tangential issue of AIDS statistics I suspect numbers have been vastly exaggerated - especially in Africa where existing health issues may have been shoveled under the AIDS banner. Funding may relate to incidence - hence a bias to increase incidence figures.

[squid314]

You're cheering for a team instead of analyzing the implications of statements. Stop it

Junk Science

[polyanarch]

It is because Anthropogenic Global Warming is the perfect man-made storm to advance the greatest wealth-redistribution scheme ever envisioned by collectivists to be foisted on the world.

Marx himself would be damn proud. This scheme dwarfs anything He could have envisioned. Stalin, Mao -mere pikers!

-Just follow the money.

[selfishgene]

I want to address the substance of your argument. But first I want to mention the post was about suppressing dissent - not about whether I agree with the dissent. The funding of science by central government necessarily leads to groupthink. Instead of having to fight established opinion to spread a new idea, one has to scrabble for funds to even investigate new ideas. Every person in science will claim to favor original thinking but in practice it is easier to rationalize existing dogma. When almost all funding is controlled by centralized committees this tendency is even stronger

[smandal]

Well, anarchic Somalia has some crises that seem to require gov't-based solutions: a transparent system of natural monopolies (i.e., public utilities like water and electricity), a final authority for deterring and investigating crimes (i.e., police), and a final authority for peacefully settling disputes and administering justice (i.e, a judiciary