Comments on: Government Seems Skeptical About Science

By: zoop

zoop — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 00:16:50 +0000

I think its dangerous to suggest that science can support only one political or public policy stance on any issue, particularly when that issue is as controversial as the Kyoto Accord.

Calling Harper skeptical of science is just another attempt to paint him as a scary and extreme right-wing neo-con, which is just Liberal Party filler for those quiet moments between their many witch hunts and leadership embarrassments.

Dion’s lack of leadership is relevant, but its how Harper responds to the total failure by Liberal governments to meet the Kyoto targets that matters. Since taking office, the Conservatives have already shown more conviction and results on this file than any other government in Canadian history, and that will help him win the next election, not lose it.

By: Helen Gaius Mohiam

Helen Gaius Mohiam — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 02:21:54 +0000

Now, to bring the matter back down to cases, one can usefully consider these accounts and statistics for the most recently reported twelve-month period.

http://www.dailytech.com/Temperature+Monitors+Report+Worldwide+Global+Cooling/article10866.htm

If this reversal continues, we can warm ourselves with red cheeks and a bonfire of the vanities.

LawIsCool: Although it may appear counter-intuitive, global warming does not result in uniform increases in temperature globally. The causal link between recent human activity and recent changes is not contested by scientists; only the extent and eventual effects are.

By: Helen Gaius Mohiam

Helen Gaius Mohiam — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 00:52:03 +0000

Your claim that the Canadian government seems skeptical about science is amazing for its generality and its presuppositions. Is “the Canadian government” skeptical about science, all science, science as such?

Is Nature, the magazine, science? Is anything said by one of its editors and writers somehow knowable as science? Is the particular system of opinions under discussion, about which at least some Canadian officials are skeptical, actually science? Is the nature or character of science scientifically established? Does “science” mean “truth”? What is science?

Are the officials of the Canadian government scientists? Are the writers of Law Is Cool scientists? Are the awarders of the Nobel prizes? Is Julia Langer? Are the other members of the WWF? Does a method exist by which one may infallibly distinguish scientists from others? What is a scientist?

Do all scientists hold to a single system of opinions? Do scientists ever change their minds about matters some of them previously considered settled? Have people ever claimed falsely to be scientists? How does one know? Is it ever difficult to judge? Have any scientists, real or false, ever made false claims? How does one know? Is it ever difficult to judge?

Is any scientist required to believe something another scientist says? Is any non-scientist required to believe something a scientist says? Who is permitted to doubt what? May a woman doubt? May a gay man doubt? May a Christian doubt? May a muslim?