The statistics that Adam Frank presents do not surprise me at all. He states that in 1989 63 percent of Americans thought that “climate change” was a problem. Almost twenty five years later the percentage dropped about 5 percentage points. I think this is just Americans questioning the things they are told. Frank wants people to believe whatever the scientists say and to not question it. He acts like doubting is a bad thing. I think doubting is one of the most important things that people could do when talking about people in a position of power. Mindless following is a bad thing. Learning about science is a good thing. Learning comes with doubting. When you doubt a assertion made by a scientist you can research the topic yourself, conducting your own scientific research. If a person likes science they will learn about science. Forcing science upon people will only turn them away from it. Frank says science is a tradition, and I agree with that. You shouldn’t mess with tradition. If people want science they will get science.
"He acts like doubting is a bad thing." That's exactly what I pulled from it. But science is open-minded skepticism, right? You have to doubt, and ask questions. I think his problem is that he doesn't think people are asking questions. Maybe I live with rose-tinted glasses, but in my experience, that couldn't be more wrong.
ReplyDeleteI like how you expressed how you felt about the article. My favorite quote of your was, "If people want science they will get science." This shows where you stand on the issue. I also agree with the idea if people want to learn more about science that they can but if they don't have the desire they should not be forced.
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