What, Why & How do we Know ?
Somewhat begrudgingly I noted that the Kenan Malik I was reading was very good. In fact having now finished it, I can say it is truly excellent, probably the only disappointment is that his conclusion primes us for an exhilarating ride, without risking giving any advice on the best strategy. I was sceptical at the … Continue reading “Kenan Malik – The Dream of Reason Part II”
Science is an appeal to authority, but where does that authority come from? An interesting Guardian piece by Graham Redfearn on Naomi Oreskes (with a TED Talk of hers at the bottom) There really is no scientific method. Inductive of hypotheses and predictions, true, but actually a rare case Deductive of observed evidence, true, but … Continue reading “Science is an Appeal to Authority”
I’m not an expert cosmologist, nor even a physicist. And as someone already said in a comment in the thread that posed me the above question, few people in such threads are actually experts. [Aside: I’ve probably 120 posts over 14 years on this blog alone highlighting sources of doubt – eg arising from CMBR … Continue reading “Evidence of Big Bang Flaws?”
One to watch later from IAI TV. Now having watched: Polly Higgins – all true, but mostly irrelevant, except the basic point “we” must take our responsibility for the planet, a duty of care. Bjorn Lomborg – hits the point. A polarising debate between doomsayers and deniers is the last thing we need. Ultimately, like … Continue reading “Cosmic Custodianship”
Whenever I hear people talking about the need for a revolution, I need to look in their eyes and see what they are really thinking by that word “revolution” before I think “careful what you wish for”. Bankers and capitalism / globalisation / consumerism generally; Democratic, parliamentary government; Standards in education and academe; Press and … Continue reading “Everybody Wants a Revolution”
I’m not a climate sceptic, but I’m a sceptic of “science reporting (claiming)” of global warming or any other non-local-closed-system global / cosmic events. Interesting that the journalist here, David Shukman, can make a point out of “X is common sense, but I’ve never heard a scientist actually claim it before” (X here being the … Continue reading “Common Sense – Global Warming”
Interesting link from Sam (at Elizaphanian) by Judith Curry “Climate Change – no consensus on consensus“. The issue is to escape the denial, and simply recognize the big science decisions – to agree or criticize with “findings” are not scientific, they are political, tactical, strategic, etc … value-based. The key IPCC consensus finding from its … Continue reading “Science Body Politic”
The Conversion of a Climate-Change Skeptic (Richard Muller) in the NYT, via BBC. Call me a converted skeptic. Three years ago I identified problems in previous climate studies that, in my mind, threw doubt on the very existence of global warming. Last year, following an intensive research effort involving a dozen scientists, I concluded that … Continue reading “Humans – the A in AGW”