Friday, October 2, 2009

Science versus activism

The theories of scientific progress I have read involve attacking theories mercilessly and keeping the simplest ones that stand up. Thus, the rationale for ejecting Mitchell Taylor from the Polar Bear Specialist Group (PBSG) is detrimental to science:

I do believe, as do many PBSG members, that for the sake of polar bear conservation, views that run counter to human induced climate change are extremely unhelpful. [...] I too was not surprised by the members not endorsing an invitation.

Gee, I would think that, for the sake of polar bear conservation, it is important to learn the truth.

On further reading, however, I'm not sure the PBSG is a scientific organization. From skimming their web site, they sounds more like a U.N. committee or an activist group. Such groups try to organize action, not to learn.

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