Spin Doctors (Was History of Science (was Map dowsing))


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Posted by Jock on March 02, 2006 at 18:47:41 from 84.68.239.14 user Jock.

In Reply to: Re: History of Science (was Map dowsing) posted by Peter H on March 02, 2006 at 15:27:04:

But what worries me is the second part, ie that science has 'spin doctors'.

Gosh Peter, This is a really hard question to answer while remaining true to Tarboard's principles of objectivity and fair play. So here goes!

The first sort of science 'spin doctors' are those that distort or fake results to please their paymasters. Thus NASA public affairs managers have leant on climate change expert James Hansen. The agrochemical, food, nuclear, oil and parma industries are all spinning away busily with the assistance of unscruplulous 'scientists'.

The second sort of spin doctors have worked on both sides of the 'science vs. religion' debate. The fundamentalist rationalists say, "It is...idle to pretend, as many do, that there is no contradiction between religion and science. Science contradicts religion as surely as Judaism contradicts Islam... ." Brian Appleyard ("Science and the Soul of Modern Man"). The Catholic Church says "Science can purify religion from error and superstition; religion can purify science from idolatry and false absolutes. Each can draw the other into a wider world, a world in which both can flourish… ." Pope John Paul II. But it was not always so.

If you are interested in exploring the history of the struggle between Scientists and the Church, some of the history, as well as some recent philosophy, is covered in Dan Brown's pot boiler Angels and Demons.


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