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To: MNDude
"Science is a consensus building process," DiResta said.

I want to pause here and talk about this notion of consensus, and the rise of what has been called consensus science. I regard consensus science as an extremely pernicious development that ought to be stopped cold in its tracks. Historically, the claim of consensus has been the first refuge of scoundrels; it is a way to avoid debate by claiming that the matter is already settled. Whenever you hear the consensus of scientists agrees on something or other, reach for your wallet, because you’re being had.

Let’s be clear: the work of science has nothing whatever to do with consensus. Consensus is the business of politics. Science, on the contrary, requires only one investigator who happens to be right, which means that he or she has results that are verifiable by reference to the real world. In science consensus is irrelevant. What is relevant is reproducible results. The greatest scientists in history are great precisely because they broke with the consensus.

There is no such thing as consensus science. If it’s consensus, it isn’t science. If it’s science, it isn’t consensus. Period.

Dr. Michael Crichton said.
39 posted on 09/21/2021 10:52:23 AM PDT by DuncanWaring (The Lord uses the good ones; the bad ones use the Lord.)
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To: DuncanWaring

Thank you for this quote from the genius, Michael Crichton, MD.

My post later defined science as definitely NOT consensus, and never has been.

Excellent post.


85 posted on 09/21/2021 11:37:21 AM PDT by John S Mosby (Sic Semper Tyrannis)
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To: DuncanWaring

Truth is truth.

It doesn’t matter what the consensus is.


87 posted on 09/21/2021 11:44:20 AM PDT by redgolum (If this is civilization, I will be the barbarian. )
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