Naomi Oreskes, a historian and author of "Merchants of Doubt," discusses how industries like tobacco and fossil fuels have weaponized uncertainty to protect their profits. She reveals the calculated tactics that create public confusion, such as astroturfing and framing issues as personal freedoms. Oreskes emphasizes the urgency of distinguishing real scientific skepticism from manufactured doubt, especially in the context of emerging technologies like AI. She advocates for adaptive governance and effective communication to combat disinformation and foster informed decision-making.
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Merchants of Doubt: Who They Were
The original Merchants of Doubt were Cold War physicists, not climate scientists.
They leveraged their influence to attack climate science and tobacco research.
insights INSIGHT
Ideological Motivation
These scientists weren't just skeptical; they were ideologically motivated.
They feared government regulation would lead to totalitarianism, echoing Cold War anxieties.
insights INSIGHT
Manufacturing Doubt
The Merchants of Doubt aimed to create uncertainty, not disprove scientific findings.
They exploited the inherent uncertainty in science to delay action.
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Dans "The Big Myth", Naomi Oreskes et Erik Conway déconstruisent le "fondamentalisme du marché", une idéologie quasi-religieuse qui croit en la capacité du marché à résoudre tous les problèmes sociétaux. L'ouvrage explore les origines historiques de cette croyance et son impact sur les défis environnementaux. Les auteurs analysent comment cette idéologie a pris racine et s'est maintenue malgré les preuves de ses limites. Ils mettent en lumière les conséquences néfastes de cette vision du monde sur les politiques publiques et la gestion des crises. Le livre propose une analyse critique des fondements de cette idéologie et appelle à une réflexion sur les alternatives possibles.
The Wealth of Nations
Adam Smith
Published in 1776, 'The Wealth of Nations' is Adam Smith's magnum opus that laid the groundwork for modern economics. The book critiques mercantilist economic theories and introduces the concept of the 'invisible hand,' which describes how individual self-interest leads to societal benefit. It emphasizes the division of labor, the accumulation of capital, and the importance of free markets. Smith argues that a nation's wealth is not measured by its gold and silver reserves but by the stream of goods and services it produces. The book also outlines the core functions of government, such as maintaining defense, enforcing civil law, and promoting education, while advocating for limited government intervention in market activities.
Merchants of doubt
Naomi Oreskes
In 'Merchants of Doubt', historians Naomi Oreskes and Erik M. Conway expose how a loose-knit group of high-level scientists, with deep connections in politics and industry, ran effective campaigns to mislead the public and deny well-established scientific knowledge over four decades. The book highlights how the same individuals repeatedly denied the truth of studies linking smoking to lung cancer, coal smoke to acid rain, and CFCs to the ozone hole, all while promoting an ideology of free market fundamentalism aided by a compliant media.
The Jungle
Upton Sinclair
Published in 1906, 'The Jungle' follows the life of Lithuanian immigrant Jurgis Rudkus and his family as they navigate the brutal realities of working-class life in Chicago's meatpacking district, known as Packingtown. The novel highlights issues such as public health hazards, extreme poverty, and the cruel treatment of workers and animals. Despite Sinclair's intention to expose labor abuses, the public reaction primarily focused on the sanitation issues in the meatpacking industry, leading to significant legislative changes, including the passage of the U.S. Pure Food and Drug Act and the Meat Inspection Act.
Silent Spring
Rachel Carson
Published in 1962, 'Silent Spring' by Rachel Carson is a seminal work in environmental science. The book documents the harmful effects of DDT and other pesticides on the environment, including their impact on bird populations, other wildlife, and human health. Carson argued that these substances should be called 'biocides' due to their broad impact on ecosystems. The book was serialized in 'The New Yorker' before its full publication and generated significant public and scientific debate. It led to a reversal in U.S. pesticide policy, the banning of DDT for agricultural use in 1972, and the establishment of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1970. Carson's work challenged the prevailing attitudes towards scientific progress and human control over nature, advocating for responsible and careful use of pesticides and highlighting the need for environmental stewardship.
One of the hardest parts about being human today is navigating uncertainty. When we see experts battling in public and emotions running high, it's easy to doubt what we once felt certain about. This uncertainty isn't always accidental—it's often strategically manufactured.
Historian Naomi Oreskes, author of "Merchants of Doubt," reveals how industries from tobacco to fossil fuels have deployed a calculated playbook to create uncertainty about their products' harms. These campaigns have delayed regulation and protected profits by exploiting how we process information.
In this episode, Oreskes breaks down that playbook page-by-page while offering practical ways to build resistance against them. As AI rapidly transforms our world, learning to distinguish between genuine scientific uncertainty and manufactured doubt has never been more critical.
Naomi incorrectly referenced Global Climate Research Program established under President Bush Sr. The correct name is the U.S. Global Change Research Program.
Naomi referenced U.S. agencies that have been created with sunset clauses. While several statutes have been created with sunset clauses, no federal agency has been.
CLARIFICATION: Naomi referenced the U.S. automobile industry claiming that they would be “destroyed” by seatbelt regulation. We couldn’t verify this specific language but it is consistent with the anti-regulatory stance of that industry toward seatbelt laws.
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