We talk about science as a method for determining measurable (data-based) truths. We then talk about two anti-science movements/money machines and how they start and how they persist. Finally, we talk about how being a conspiracy nut helps you stay embedded in your political tribe.
KYMN Climate Show 6-5-19
References:
- In so far as a scientific statement speaks about reality, it must be falsifiable; and in so far as it is not falsifiable, it does not speak about reality.
– Karl Popper
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/authors/karl_popper- All you can do is not find evidence proving the theory, but you cannot find evidence proving the negative
https://courses.vcu.edu/PHY-rhg/astron/html/mod/006/index.html - Cold fusion and the way smart people could invent plausible pathways to make it work – a combination of the fact that they wanted to believe coupled with creative imaginations.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_fusion - “The weight of evidence for an extraordinary claim must be proportioned to its strangeness.”
– Laplace
https://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Extraordinary_claims_require_extraordinary_evidence
- All you can do is not find evidence proving the theory, but you cannot find evidence proving the negative
- Two examples show that being a victim of a conspiracy hoax is non-partisan
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- Anti-science – the MMR vaccination hoax
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lancet_MMR_autism_fraud - Anti-science – the climate change deniers
- Anti-science – the MMR vaccination hoax
- Both are fueled by fake news, faked data and fake science
- Both have large cottage industries trying to make a living off being the voice of “truth”
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- Conspiracy theories fuel politics
- Highly recommend PBS Frontline’s The long history of Russian disinformation targeting the U.S.
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/the-long-history-of-russian-disinformation-targeting-the-u-s - We note that the Russians do not have a side in the fight – but they just want to fuel the fight.
“If you can maneuver the enemy into a circular firing squad – you never have to fire a shot.”
– Bruce Morlan
- Highly recommend PBS Frontline’s The long history of Russian disinformation targeting the U.S.
