Results 1 to 3 of 3
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Posts
    18,758
    Piss Off (Given)
    0
    Piss Off (Received)
    0
    Mentioned
    139 Post(s)
    Rep Power
    21475233

    Default “Science is the belief in the ignorance of experts”

    “Science is the belief in the ignorance of experts” is how the great Nobel Prize-winning physicist Richard Feynman defined science in his article “What is Science?” Feynman emphasized this definition by repeating it in a stand-alone sentence in extra large typeface in his article. (Feynman’s essay is available online, but behind a subscription wall: The Physics Teacher (1969) volume 7, starting page 313.)

    Immediately after his definition of science, Feynman wrote: “When someone says, ‘Science teaches such and such,’ he is using the word incorrectly. Science doesn’t teach anything; experience teaches it. If they say to you, ‘Science has shown such and such,’ you should ask, ‘How does science show it? How did the scientists find out? How? What? Where?’ It should not be ‘science has shown.’ And you have as much right as anyone else, upon hearing about the experiments (but be patient and listen to all the evidence) to judge whether a sensible conclusion has been arrived at.”

    And I say, Amen. Notice that “you” is the average person. You have the right to hear the evidence, and you have the right to judge whether the evidence supports the conclusion. We now use the phrase “scientific consensus,” or “peer review," rather than “science has shown.” By whatever name, the idea is balderdash. Feynman was absolutely correct.

    When the attorney general of Virginia sued to force Michael Mann of "hockey stick" fame to provide the raw data he used, and the complete computer program used to analyze the data, so that “you” could decide, the Faculty Senate of the University of Virginia (where Mann was a professor at the time he defended the hockey stick) declared this request -- Feynman’s request -- to be an outrage. You peons, the Faculty Senate decreed, must simply accept the conclusions of any “scientific endeavor that has satisfied peer review standards.” Feynman’s -- and the attorney general’s and my own and other scientists’ -- request for the raw data, so we can “judge whether a sensible conclusion has been arrived at,” would, according to the Faculty Senate, “send a chilling message to scientists … and indeed scholars in any discipline.”
    Great piece speaking to the bullshit lies our "leaders" tell us about "science".


    https://pjmedia.com/blog/the-differe...inglepage=true
    “… the greatest detractor from high performance is fear: fear that you are not prepared, fear that you are in over your head, fear that you are not worthy, and ultimately, fear of failure. If you can eliminate that fear—not through arrogance or just wishing difficulties away, but through hard work and preparation—you will put yourself in an incredibly powerful position to take on the challenges you face" - Pete Carroll.

  2. Thanks GravyBoat, revelarts thanked this post
  3. #2
    Join Date
    Jul 2016
    Posts
    576
    Thanks (Given)
    96
    Thanks (Received)
    94
    Likes (Given)
    85
    Likes (Received)
    20
    Piss Off (Given)
    0
    Piss Off (Received)
    0
    Mentioned
    5 Post(s)
    Rep Power
    0

    Default

    FYI here's what "hockey stick" means:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hockey_stick_controversy

  4. Thanks darin thanked this post
  5. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    Virginia, U.S.A.
    Posts
    13,954
    Thanks (Given)
    4821
    Thanks (Received)
    4637
    Likes (Given)
    2473
    Likes (Received)
    1562
    Piss Off (Given)
    0
    Piss Off (Received)
    3
    Mentioned
    126 Post(s)
    Rep Power
    14075389

    Default

    Great quote.
    the evidence is the thing. In most areas people like shortcuts and saying "science says" or "scientist agree" has become a shorthand in most people's minds for the evidence shows or it's been proven by experiment.

    And in many cases that's true but each cases has to be taken on it's own merits.
    the science ...the evidence/experiments for... the boiling point of water at sea level is far more solid than
    the science ...the evidence/experiments for... the body fat of an extinct fish... or the working physics/mechanics of the sun.

    But when scientist talk about anything it has a air of certitude. But the amount of and the type evidence/experiments is what really gives credibility to the statements.
    And as lay people it's not always easy to grasps the evidence/experiments. And to just take scientific pronouncements on faith/authority is fine in some cases. But in others where scientist are asking for major changes in people's lives, everyone needs to be from Missouri. SHOW ME.



    ....
    DMP Adding your quote to the "science is dogma" thread.
    It is proper to take alarm at the first experiment on our liberties. The freeman of America did not wait till usurped power had strengthened itself by exercise, and entangled the question in precedents. James Madison
    Live as free people, yet without employing your freedom as a pretext for wickedness; but live at all times as servants of God.
    1 Peter 2:16

  6. Thanks darin thanked this post

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Debate Policy - Political Forums