Guest Donald Prothero talks about the tactics of science deniers and the assault on science, covering topics like global warming, creationism, and vaccine safety. He discusses the history of denialists and their influence on public perceptions of truth. Prothero provides advice on engaging with denialists and debunking myths effectively.
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Quick takeaways
Denialism tactics mirror Holocaust denial strategies, using misrepresentation and quote mining to cast doubt on established scientific truths.
Misinformation and misquoting by denialists hinder public education efforts on topics like evolution and global warming.
Combatting denialism requires a nuanced approach balancing factual accuracy with persuasive communication to counter the spread of misinformation.
Deep dives
Understanding and Combating Denialism in Science
Denialism represents a challenge to accepted scientific conclusions, often fueled by pre-existing beliefs that defy scientific consensus. Analogous to the tactics used by Holocaust deniers, denialism employs a diverse range of strategies to sow doubt. Strategies such as quote mining, misrepresenting scientific literature, and diverting attention from core scientific concepts are commonly employed.
Impact of Denialism Tactics
Denialism strategies, exemplified by quote mining and misrepresentation of scientific work, can be found in various contentious debates like evolution and global warming. By distorting facts and misquoting experts, denialists reinforce their narratives, hindering efforts to educate and inform the public about scientific realities.
Challenges in Addressing Denialism
Challenging denialism poses unique hurdles due to the entrenched beliefs and misinformation circulated by denialist groups. Effectively countering denialist arguments requires a thoughtful approach that balances factual accuracy and persuasive communication to combat the spread of misinformation that denialism perpetuates.
The Evolution of Pseudoscience and Denialism
Pseudoscience has evolved over centuries, with early instances documented back to Platonic dialogues. Notably, denialism has historical roots, intertwining with the Cold War context and the emergence of nuclear physicists turned denialism proponents. Understanding this evolution sheds light on the persistent challenges of pseudoscience and denialism in contemporary discourse.
Psychological Tactics in Addressing Denialism
Psychological research underscores the complexity of addressing denialism, highlighting the limitations of inundating audiences with solely factual information. Leveraging cognitive strategies like framing core scientific facts, warning of forthcoming myths, and incorporating graphic representations can enhance the effectiveness of communication strategies when dealing with denialism.
Guest Donald Prothero joins us to discuss the common tactics and thinking of science deniers and the implications of this assault on science for our future. The denial of scientific realities in issues like global warming, creationism, vaccine safety, and AIDS, is growing in our society. Not only is our acceptance of scientific "inconvenient truths" under attack, but even scientists themselves have been threatened.
Donald R. Prothero is Professor of Geology at Occidental College and Lecturer in Geobiology at the California Institute of Technology. He is the author, co-author, editor, or co-editor of 25 books, over 200 scientific papers and a number of popular books including, most recenly, "Catastrophes!: Earthquakes, Tsunamis, Tornadoes, and Other Earth-Shattering Disasters" and "Evolution: What the Fossils Say and Why It Matters". He is on the editorial board of Skeptic magazine and has been featured on several television documentaries, including episodes of Paleoworld (BBC), Prehistoric Monsters Revealed (History Channel), Entelodon and Hyaenodon (National Geographic Channel), and Walking with Prehistoric Beasts (BBC).
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