General Discussion

longship

(40,416 posts)

129. Science is a conservative, constructive enterprise.

Sat Apr 2, 2016, 05:17 PM

Apr 2016

New theory does not so much replace old theory as much as it modifies it, improves it.

For instance, Einstein's general theory of relativity is a better theory of gravitation than Newton's. However, that does not stop Newton's theory being good enough to put space probes in orbit -- and land them -- on distant planets. Also, Einstein's version is a bitch to work with.

There are many other examples. The reality is that modern science does not generally throw out the old theories because they still work, within their domains.

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Why Do Many Reasonable People Doubt Science? [View all] HuckleB Mar 2016 OP

Because if the earth was round, we'd slide off. Nailzberg Mar 2016 #1

Poor science. HuckleB Mar 2016 #16

No such thing Major Nikon Apr 2016 #97

Because science isn't a priority in school curricula any more. NV Whino Mar 2016 #2

When I was teaching high school social studies Bigmack Apr 2016 #84

They are not reasonable people malaise Mar 2016 #3

Don't dis DRAMA! HuckleB Mar 2016 #4

you struck the nail on the proverbial head TimeToEvolve Mar 2016 #10

Precisely malaise Mar 2016 #24

My thoughts exactly. we can do it Mar 2016 #75

My own uninformed opinion is that its influenced by poor science reporting and lack... Humanist_Activist Mar 2016 #5

I suspect your hypothesis is worth exploring. HuckleB Mar 2016 #6

The media has never helped. Archae Mar 2016 #14

I would add movies and tv along with that Proud Liberal Dem Mar 2016 #35

Post removed Post removed Mar 2016 #7

Nice try - here's your new hat hatrack Mar 2016 #8

Oh, boy. HuckleB Mar 2016 #11

they are called the laws of thermo-fucking-dymanics!!!!!! TimeToEvolve Mar 2016 #12

the main graph from the Mann paper Angel Martin Mar 2016 #19

That's like "my cancer isn't spreading as fast as the doctors said, so I must not have cancer" progressoid Mar 2016 #20

No, what the data in the Mann paper means Angel Martin Mar 2016 #25

Volcanic activity? Ghost Dog Mar 2016 #27

Temperatures have more or less flatlined? SheilaT Mar 2016 #53

That's the mantra of denialists. HuckleB Mar 2016 #54

Uhhh... NO. You did not read the concluding remarks. Adrahil Mar 2016 #70

+1 HuckleB Mar 2016 #71

+1 n/t Gormy Cuss Apr 2016 #86

Your graph is out of date muriel_volestrangler Mar 2016 #26

Climate science is more complex than you think. Here's is an explanation. Chemisse Apr 2016 #126

Reality is what's still there whether anyone believes it or not bhikkhu Mar 2016 #15

somebody better tell Antartica edhopper Mar 2016 #29

"had put something in the water" awoke_in_2003 Mar 2016 #9

yet it is the Pb they should be worried about it. TimeToEvolve Mar 2016 #13

I was making a awoke_in_2003 Mar 2016 #18

1. They're not reasonable and 2. An outsider describes it best - Richard Dawkins said MillennialDem Mar 2016 #17

Not so fast. EllieBC Mar 2016 #56

Unfortunately, many people with non-science higher educations... HuckleB Apr 2016 #125

The saddest aspect of life right now... progressoid Mar 2016 #21

+1,000... 000 HuckleB Mar 2016 #41

also from Asimov... alp227 Apr 2016 #101

many otherwise reasonable people have a lot invested in doubting science 0rganism Mar 2016 #22

Answer seems simple to me. Money. There's money to be made. Festivito Mar 2016 #23

except the vast majority of people who deny science edhopper Mar 2016 #28

Conservatives don't hate facts. They don't trust facts. DetlefK Mar 2016 #32

good post. edhopper Mar 2016 #63

Didn't mean to say they did. Check out the leader's income from donations. Festivito Mar 2016 #49

I agree that the motivation for edhopper Mar 2016 #62

Because science is everywhere, but few people actually understand it. DetlefK Mar 2016 #30

The scientific method, I don't doubt get the red out Mar 2016 #31

Yes, this is a problem is science reporting. alarimer Mar 2016 #38

Reasonable people do not exist. AngryAmish Mar 2016 #33

They're not reasonable rjsquirrel Mar 2016 #34

Three possible reasons whatthehey Mar 2016 #36

Some aspect of Dunning-Kruger, possibly. alarimer Mar 2016 #37

Science is not about belief. nt bemildred Mar 2016 #39

I don't think numbers have changed, with the intertubes though every fucking idiot has a voice snooper2 Mar 2016 #40

some of it is overreaction to exposed junk science Amishman Mar 2016 #42

It's amazing that the press miscovers most actual science, and then hypes the junk. HuckleB Mar 2016 #43

Because they don't understand it. Avalux Mar 2016 #44

Education in this country is in need of serious reform seanjoycek476 Mar 2016 #45

Look how many people attack GMO foods. former9thward Mar 2016 #46

The article addresses that topic. HuckleB Mar 2016 #50

No, they have all sorts of evidence Major Nikon Apr 2016 #106

It's a disc on elephants riding on the Great Sky Turtle, Atuin. GoneOffShore Mar 2016 #47

In this country we stupidly venerate "faith" over facts. Arugula Latte Mar 2016 #48

It took me about 3 years to convince a friend of my who is smart that "reality TV" LiberalArkie Mar 2016 #51

Oh, goodness. HuckleB Mar 2016 #52

To begin with, science is often not very well taught in high school in the first place. SheilaT Mar 2016 #55

Your explanation doesn't cover the other half. EllieBC Mar 2016 #57

Even in non Bible belt SheilaT Mar 2016 #59

And a lot of it is that even the well educated EllieBC Mar 2016 #61

Yes. Logic and logical thinking SheilaT Mar 2016 #67

Because science is sometimes wrong. kwassa Mar 2016 #58

You've outlined the ways that pseudoscience promoters push mistrust of science. HuckleB Mar 2016 #64

You are incorrect, sir. kwassa Mar 2016 #76

And then you continue to add to the ways that pseudoscience demonizes logic and science. HuckleB Apr 2016 #80

I am not demonizing science at all ... kwassa Apr 2016 #81

Oh, goodness. HuckleB Apr 2016 #82

What are you talking about? kwassa Apr 2016 #83

You're running the pseudoscience justification module to the T. HuckleB Apr 2016 #85

and you are labeling my argument without supplying a cogent and coherent rebuttal. kwassa Apr 2016 #91

I'm not trying to rebut anything. HuckleB Apr 2016 #93

of course not, because your argument doesn't hold water ... kwassa Apr 2016 #94

You don't have an argument. The "science was wrong fallacy" is, well, a fallacy. HuckleB Apr 2016 #99

That wasn't my argument. kwassa Apr 2016 #110

It was, and I understand it perfectly well. HuckleB Apr 2016 #111

Well, continue on in your misbelief. kwassa Apr 2016 #113

You really think you can fool people that easily? HuckleB Apr 2016 #115

Science --> pseudoscience ? Care to give some examples ? Bonx Apr 2016 #95

It was recognized as non-science, or bad science, after it was disproved. kwassa Apr 2016 #96

But none of those were good science to begin with. Bonx Apr 2016 #98

They were good science for their time and place. kwassa Apr 2016 #108

Scientific theory =/ science Major Nikon Apr 2016 #107

I don't disagree. kwassa Apr 2016 #109

The sun may not come up tomorrow Major Nikon Apr 2016 #112

+1 HuckleB Apr 2016 #116

You failed to point out that its the scientific process that corrects for these errors... Humanist_Activist Apr 2016 #87

True, however the history of such reversals creates doubt .... kwassa Apr 2016 #89

If they are doing it due to conflicting evidence or the lack of evidence, that's one thing... Humanist_Activist Apr 2016 #92

I agree completely. kwassa Apr 2016 #114

Folks have been raised to get the truth one time... TipTok Mar 2016 #60

We have to teach the need for challenging our own beliefs, indeed. HuckleB Mar 2016 #65

Thinking is hard! yortsed snacilbuper Mar 2016 #66

Because there is no law in nature that states people have to agree with you or use common sense. Rex Mar 2016 #68

Your gifs are mesmerizing. HuckleB Mar 2016 #73

Thanks, we have some talented gif makers! Rex Mar 2016 #74

Because they are not really "reason"able. Adrahil Mar 2016 #69

You certainly have a good point. HuckleB Apr 2016 #78

It goes against their reliigion! yortsed snacilbuper Mar 2016 #72

In the case of liberals, it's an issue of trust and conflation chade Mar 2016 #77

It's because they aren't reasonable. Act_of_Reparation Apr 2016 #79

Why do so many reasonable people think they will win the lottery when the value goes up? Rex Apr 2016 #88

That's where it starts. HuckleB Apr 2016 #120

Some believe that gut instinct is better than objective evidence sakabatou Apr 2016 #90

In some instances frustrated_lefty Apr 2016 #100

Because science doesn't have a public relations or communications arm. cheapdate Apr 2016 #102

You are definitely on to something here. HuckleB Apr 2016 #103

This is a large part of the problem, one reason it is hard to talk logic to RWingers. Rex Apr 2016 #117

Because they believe science is Satan's religion? B Calm Apr 2016 #104

Or Satan's Helper? HuckleB Apr 2016 #105

To some degree, the "everybody wins" mentality says that the opinion of people who Thor_MN Apr 2016 #118

You're spot on. HuckleB Apr 2016 #119

The letters to the editor are some funny if not depressing reads. Rex Apr 2016 #121

It's called motivated reasoning caraher Apr 2016 #122

A good size chunk of the population LadyHawkAZ Apr 2016 #123

Yeah, that does not help! HuckleB Apr 2016 #124

Because tomorrow's science will disprove today's science... egduj Apr 2016 #127

It can, but that's not necessarily so. HuckleB Apr 2016 #128

Science is a conservative, constructive enterprise. longship Apr 2016 #129

+1 HuckleB Apr 2016 #130