The ‘Science’ Mantra (Thomas Sowell)

Jewish World Review ^ | December 22, 2009 | Thomas Sowell

[jazusamo]

Science is one of the great achievements of the human mind and the biggest reason why we live not only longer but more vigorously in our old age, in addition to all the ways in which it provides us with things that make life easier and more enjoyable.

Like anything valuable, science has been seized upon by politicians and ideologues, and used to forward their own agendas. This started long ago, as far back as the 18th century, when the Marquis de Condorcet coined the term "social science" to describe various theories he favored. In the 19th century, Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels distinguished their own brand of socialism as "scientific socialism." By the 20th century, all sorts of notions wrapped themselves in the mantle of "science."

"Global warming" hysteria is only the latest in this long line of notions, whose main argument is that there is no argument, because it is "science." The recently revealed destruction of raw data at the bottom of the global warming hysteria, as well as revelations of attempts to prevent critics of this hysteria from being published in leading journals, suggests that the disinterested search for truth — the hallmark of real science — has taken a back seat to a political crusade.

An intercepted e-mail from a professor at the Climate Research Unit in England to a professor at the University of Pennsylvania warned the latter: "Don't any of you three tell anybody that the UK has a Freedom of Information Act" and urged the American professor to delete any e-mails he may have sent a colleague regarding the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

When a business accused of fraud begins shredding its memos and deleting its e-mails, the media are quick to proclaim these actions as signs of guilt...

[steelyourfaith]

 

Beam me to Planet Gore !

[jazusamo]

*PING*
Thomas Sowell

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Please FReepmail me if you would like to be added to, or removed from, the Thomas Sowell ping list…

[jazusamo]

Thanks, you beat me again.:)

[sionnsar]

When a business accused of fraud begins shredding its memos and deleting its e-mails, the media are quick to proclaim these actions as signs of guilt. But, after the global warming advocates began a systematic destruction of evidence, the big television networks went for days without even reporting these facts, much less commenting on them.

The so-called "Main-Stream Media" is fully complicit in this fraud. Hence their silence.

[jazusamo]

The so-called "Main-Stream Media" is fully complicit in this fraud. Hence their silence.

Absolutely! Here's an interesting article on a journalist that saw the light. Thread posted this afternoon.

CA: From Global Warming Believer To Skeptic

[rockinqsranch]

Thanks for the ping jaz. I urge everybody to read the serious request by the site owner at Jewish World Review as well. It’s a valuable site to all, and prayers for him, his health, and the future of JWR.

[jazusamo]

Thanks for pointing that out, RQSR. Prayers for his full recovery.

http://www.jewishworldreview.com/appeal/appeal1209.html

[Bahbah]

Oh dear, I did not know of his illness. I do not use credit cards, but can mail a contribution, which I shall do.

I value JWR tremendously and pray with all my heart for his return to health.

[george76]

Factual data are crucial in real science. Einstein himself urged that his own theory of relativity not be accepted until it could be empirically verified.

[mozarky2]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2411806/posts

A MUST READ right here-compare the writing skills of Lyons to those of Sowell-laughable!

[jazusamo]

LOL!

I think it appropriate that the thread poster noted it was fitting Lyons is a “columnist” for a cartoon website. I’ll add it must be a website hard up for writers.

Thanks for posting. :)

[Steely Tom]

Dr. Sowell’s clarity and reasoning power are magnificent to behold.

[thulldud]

Factual data are crucial in real science. Einstein himself urged that his own theory of relativity not be accepted until it could be empirically verified.

Einstein made predictions which could be checked, even though for most of those the proper means didn't exist at the time.

[SunkenCiv]

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	Gods Graves Glyphs	Like anything valuable, science has been seized upon by politicians and ideologues, and used to forward their own agendas. Just adding to the catalog, not sending a general distribution. To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list. GGG managers are SunkenCiv, StayAt HomeMother, and Ernest_at_the_Beach
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[Agamemnon]

...revelations of attempts to prevent critics of this hysteria from being published in leading journals, suggests that the disinterested search for truth — the hallmark of real science — has taken a back seat to a political crusade.

"The study of science absent the search for Truth, is no study of science at all." -- Agamemnon What one sees with AGW one has also seen for years in the context of the evolutionary premise.

FReegards!

[Gilbo_3]

Among the intelligentsia, there have always been many who are ready to jump on virtually any bandwagon that will take them to the promised land, where the wise and noble few — like themselves — can take the rest of us poor dummies in hand and tell us how we had better change the way we live our lives.

thanks jaz...that paragraph alone was worth the click...

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

An intercepted e-mail from a professor at the Climate Research Unit in England to a professor at the University of Pennsylvania warned the latter: "Don't any of you three tell anybody that the UK has a Freedom of Information Act" and urged the American professor to delete any e-mails he may have sent a colleague regarding the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

When a business accused of fraud begins shredding its memos and deleting its e-mails, the media are quick to proclaim these actions as signs of guilt. But, after the global warming advocates began a systematic destruction of evidence, the big television networks went for days without even reporting these facts, much less commenting on them.

The so-called "Main-Stream Media" is fully complicit in this fraud. Hence their silence.

In the first sentence you use the correct number (one) implied by the use of "is" rather than "are." In the second sentence you incorrectly use the plural "their" instead of the correct singular its. You really should use better grammar. ; - )

Seriously, that is not a matter of simple grammar but of intentionally induced confusion which causes us to have difficulty correctly understanding that issue. Before the Associated Press, the press were independent voices. Now that the press is associated, it is actually one voice, with the "individual" press outlets being mere fronts. And we are surprised when the journalism monolith advocates socialism, which is nothing other than the negation of individuality and the nullification of competition!

[E.G.C.]

BTTT

[MHGinTN]

Wisdom! ... And sadly, most will never hear this man’s iwse counsel.