5 stars (Global Warming, evolution incommensurable issues ) - I found this to be an eloquent but flawed indictment of the ways in which conservatives are doing an endrun around science to promote their various agendas. But as a science supporter, but a Darwin critic, I was a little alarmed by the bad advice the author received from the very peer review bodies he promotes. The problem is that, for example, global warming, about which the book is excellent, and evolution, the most confusing of the issues, are not really in the same category. We can demand science on the issue of global warming, and expose conservative fraud, but if we demand science on evolution, then we should subject the current reign of Darwinian theory to scrutiny, there to find that, as theory, its scientific status is open to question. The behavior of creationists is a very distracting noise here, because it drives science defenders further into dogma, and into a hole. The author shows how relying on the standard sources of science advice, like the NCSE, will simply fill your head with the Darwinian boilerplate syndrome, which, whatever else their failings, the rightwing critics are well aware of. Having studied Darwinian theory carefully from the suppressed science critics they realize that they can trump the wrongly educated Dawkins/science generation. It seemed impossible ten years ago, now it's happening. Time to wake up on Darwin's theory, which means accepting the reality of evolution, but looking critically on the theory of natural selection. Science journalists ought to learn to be skeptical of the failed peer review system in biology and evolution. It's going to be the undoing of science, and one dreads to think what the next ten years will bring.
Beyond that, many of the other issues raised make for an insightful expose, it is a pity the author is suckered into the Darwin trap.
5 stars (Global warming, evolution incommensurable issues. ) - I found this to be an eloquent but flawed indictment of the ways in which conservatives are doing an endrun around science to promote their various agendas. But as a science supporter, but a Darwin critic, I was a little alarmed by the bad advice the author received from the very peer review bodies he promotes. The problem is that, for example, global warming, about which the book is excellent, and evolution, the most confusing of the issues, are not really in the same category. We can demand science on the issue of global warming, and expose conservative fraud, but if we demand science on evolution, then we should subject the current reign of Darwinian theory to scrutiny, there to find that, as theory, its scientific status is open to question. The behavior of creationists is a very distracting noise here, because it drives science defenders further into dogma, and into a hole. The author shows how relying on the standard sources of science advice, like the NCSE, will simply fill your head with the Darwinian boilerplate syndrome, which, whatever else their failings, the rightwing critics are well aware of. Having studied Darwinian theory carefully from the suppressed science critics they realize that they can trump the wrongly educated Dawkins/science generation. It seemed impossible ten years ago, now it's happening. Time to wake up on Darwin's theory, which means accepting the reality of evolution, but looking critically on the theory of natural selection. Science journalists ought to learn to be skeptical of the failed peer review system in biology and evolution. It's going to be the undoing of science, and one dreads to think what the next ten years will bring.
Beyond that, many of the other issues raised make for an insightful expose, it is a pity the author is suckered into the Darwin trap.
5 stars (It's worse than I feared) - While not working as a scientist, I feel I have a very solid grounding in the sciences, obtained at a Canadian school; and I have maintained a lifelong interest in, and affinity for, science. I'm familiar with the scientific method and the process of peer review in the scientific community. I keep abreast of science news by reading Scientific American and following some online publications.
I'm aware that, while science informs, politics must make the final call. I'm also aware that no government is perfectly objective, perfectly honest and above partisan bias. I was aware of some Government decisions that appear questionable from a science viewpoint. But I wasn't aware that the censoring, twisting and pure abuse of science is as far-reaching as Mooney describes. He presents a sytematic and widespread conspiracy against science: Big business and Christian zealots are increasingly marginalizing science where this suits their interests, and the government is aggressively supporting this practice. One might consider him a tinfoil-hatted conspiracy theorist, were not Mooney's facts meticulously researched and documented, and in agreement with what politically and scientifically interested people can see for themselves.
Science is important today. The abuse of science by Bush and his government is threatening not just the US but the entire world. I'm frightened, and considering what I can do to help. As a start, I'm recommending this book to all my friends. |
