General Discussion

Buzz Clik

(38,437 posts) Thu May 21, 2015, 09:09 AM May 2015

Does science have a liberal bias? [View all]

Everyone knows that the truth has a liberal bias.

---Stephen Colbert

Colbert's tongue-in-cheek declaration about the truth is too often taken literally by progressives. Partisanship being what it is, we often are convinced that the truth is on our side.

Is the same true of science? Do scientific facts support our liberal causes? Examples:

Global climate change (and the human influence)
Anti-GMO movement
Rejection of all pesticides
The dangers of nuclear energy
Anti-vaccinations

The answer, of course, depends upon your position on these issues. For example, although anti-vaxxers originate from within the left, progressives as a whole do not embrace the anti-vaccination stance, and the science tends to support vaccinations as being safe.

What is your attitude? Are you willing to accept scientific evidence -- scientific consensus -- when the science is contrary to the personal opinion that you passionately embrace?

47 replies

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Highlight:

Does science have a liberal bias? [View all] Buzz Clik May 2015 OP

Some can't separate bad business practices and the science involved in those businesses. NuclearDem May 2015 #1

Bingo. We have a winner with the very first reply. Buzz Clik May 2015 #2

heh RobertEarl May 2015 #44

I've tried to express this same sentiment a million times over... Dr Hobbitstein May 2015 #3

I've been called a shill for "Big Pharma" because I take on anti-vaxxers. SwissTony May 2015 #15

Your check's in the mail. Buzz Clik May 2015 #17

I, being a liberal, use evidence to form my opinion underpants May 2015 #4

Excellent. But, there's evidence and there's evidence. Buzz Clik May 2015 #18

Exactly my point. They are convinced which takes belief underpants May 2015 #40

Very good. Thanks. Buzz Clik May 2015 #41

Science is apolitical and that's why Republicans don't trust it: DetlefK May 2015 #5

I agree totally with your second paragraph. Addressing your first paragraph: Buzz Clik May 2015 #19

Science has a liberal bias in that only liberals believe in science. Remember, science hasn't proven okaawhatever May 2015 #6

Not sure that conservatives don't believe in science... Buzz Clik May 2015 #21

Science does not support the anti-GMO or anti-vaccine position AT ALL. alarimer May 2015 #7

+1!!! Buzz Clik May 2015 #23

Science has a... 3catwoman3 May 2015 #8

Alas, humans do not and even assuming honesty (a big assumption, at that) accuracy is another issue. Nuclear Unicorn May 2015 #13

Indeed, it does. The truth can be elusive, but science can point the way. Buzz Clik May 2015 #24

Unless "science" has at some point been proven to be infallible, "scientific consensus" seems to be cherokeeprogressive May 2015 #9

Yup - current example: major shift in neuroscience going on right now. bananas May 2015 #12

"Science" (whatever amorphous entity that refers to) has never been said to be infallible. NuclearDem May 2015 #16

Wonderful response. Buzz Clik May 2015 #28

No matter how good The Scientific Method is, it can be subverted by just about anyone. cherokeeprogressive May 2015 #46

This is the wrong question. ananda May 2015 #10

Without question! And sometimes, those biases are difficult to tease out. Buzz Clik May 2015 #29

I think liberalism is grounded in science. FarPoint May 2015 #11

Yep, Liberalism is grounded in evidence of what is. hifiguy May 2015 #32

I disagree with this. Buzz Clik May 2015 #33

Conservatives and the GOP base do not believe in science Gothmog May 2015 #14

Hm. Not sure I've witnessed this. Do you have an example? Buzz Clik May 2015 #34

When a person insists that everything happens in a vacuum, they are as lost as the Rex May 2015 #20

I think the left invokes science when it helps and ignores it when it doesn't. HereSince1628 May 2015 #22

+1! Buzz Clik May 2015 #35

I don't know, but do know that DU's resident scientists are arrogantly biased. closeupready May 2015 #25

Actually, I'm surprised not to see more of your kind of comments. Buzz Clik May 2015 #27

DDT - remember that? It was touted as science! SCIENCE! closeupready May 2015 #31

DDT is still an effective and important insecticide. Buzz Clik May 2015 #36

Nah. If I thought members here were honestly trying to talk, closeupready May 2015 #43

Poster is confusing DDT and glyphosate. NuclearDem May 2015 #47

Let's look at each. Exilednight May 2015 #26

Nicely balanced comments. Thanks. Buzz Clik May 2015 #37

It has a FACTUAL bias. hifiguy May 2015 #30

You and I see these issues in exactly the same way. Buzz Clik May 2015 #38

Thank you. hifiguy May 2015 #39

That's it right there. Rex May 2015 #42

People who are only interested in using the word "science" as a rhetorical bludgeon should probably Chathamization May 2015 #45