[FRIAM] Science Commits Suicide (yes, another trolling headline)

Sat May 30 11:16:29 EDT 2020

Dave, 

I think what you have here is a demonstration of how monstrously the media and the public (and Ted Talks) mis-understand "science".  But to join in your critique, I think we have to embrace that misunderstanding.  Thus you posts seek to congeal that which you abhor.  NO? 

Nicholas Thompson
Emeritus Professor of Ethology and Psychology
Clark University
ThompNickSon2 at gmail.com
https://wordpress.clarku.edu/nthompson/

-----Original Message-----
From: Friam <friam-bounces at redfish.com> On Behalf Of Prof David West
Sent: Saturday, May 30, 2020 8:51 AM
To: friam at redfish.com
Subject: Re: [FRIAM] Science Commits Suicide (yes, another trolling headline)

Eric,

(BTW - nothing said by anyone on this list will ever be taken, at least by me, as a personal attack. Frank and blunt "bullshit" is always a possible and possibly called for response to anything, anyone says.)

That said — au contraire, Eric.  There is an incongruity between what I said, it being labeled BS, and the rationale for the labeling.

For the past five months I have read headlines and seen references in stories that prominently state, "Science says ... ," "The Science tells us ...," "Science suggests ... ," "The Science is settled," etc.  (I am not certain how or why The Science ever became disgruntled and in need of settling, but ...)

I have seen eminent human beings stating, "Science says ..." and politicians (never eminent in my opinion) claiming to be doing, "What The Science tells us."

I am pretty sure that "Science" and "The Science" refer to the same entity, just as Dave and David.

So, even though I have never met this entity, I am pretty confident in asserting that It is arrogant, authoritative, claims to be inerrant, and It dissembles (and or lies) constantly. The Science does make assertions as if they were unalloyed True Facts. if The Science is caught out It simply changes the subject — much like another well known public figure.

The Science has no regard for the humans it uses as mouthpieces for Its assertions. So when Dr. Fauci channels The Science in stating, "Science suggests we have nothing to worry about from this virus" or "The Science states that face masks are of no value," Dr. Fauci might be embarrassed when it becomes necessary to reverse course, but The Science doesn't give a damn.

None of the preceding is a "claim about the actions of an encompassing set of people."

Nothing in the original post referred to people (human scientists in this case) but solely to the entity, The Science.

You might argue that there is no such thing as The Science, It has no ontological status. While I would agree, de jure, I would strongly disagree, de facto. Every time an eminent personage states, "The Science ..." or a politician / public health official takes action based on"The Science," their words/actions cede exactly that status.

And, I still maintain that The Science is hell bent on self-destruction and, before long, will lack any vestige of credibility.

Now, with regard all those people, all those scientists, in your "large set of people against whom I can test that claim, and it is about as opposite from factual accuracy as I know how to get in the world of human behavior." They, most unfortunately, collectively and individually are going to be collateral damage vis-a-vis loss of credibility.

I would offer, as a supporting argument, the status of scientists in a courtroom. Two humans assert opposing claims as to what The Science says. The assertions of the humans is discounted because The Science has no credibility and neither human has derivative credibility. The jury/judge must find grounds other than credibility for believing one individual scientist over the other.

I do find it perplexing that scientists, as a body, allow The Science to usurp their knowledge and legitimate authority; why they allow The Science to speak on their behalf, even when they profoundly disagree.

davew

On Fri, May 29, 2020, at 4:18 PM, David Eric Smith wrote:
> Dave,
> 
> > On May 30, 2020, at 12:32 AM, Prof David West <profwest at fastmail.fm> wrote:
> > 
> > Science suffers from a similar problem. Making assertions as if they were unalloyed accurate and True Facts when they know that the models, the assumptions, the data (lack of) generate more ambiguity and conclude little more than probabilities. And they constantly change. But Science remains unable to admit to error or ambiguity — generating a facade that is just as false as the "We are always in the right" facade of police departments.
> 
> That’s a lot of bullshit.
> 
> It is a general claim about the actions of an encompassing set of 
> people.  I have a large set of people against whom I can test that 
> claim, and it is about as opposite from factual accuracy as I know how 
> to get in the world of human behavior.
> 
> You are, of course, free to believe whatever serves your own needs, 
> and I continue to support your right to do it unmolested.  You are 
> even free to troll up to whatever limits the board moderators consider 
> appropriate, and I can’t imagine the above comes anywhere near 
> infringing on a limit of decency.
> 
> However, if you are trolling in a public place, it is reasonable for 
> someone else to flag the trolling as bullshit.
> 
> Eric
> 
> 
> 
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