Denialism - not yet in the OED. It refers to large proportions of a cultural unit denying some truth even though the truth is unequivocal. Examples are the denial of Darwinian evolution as fact, or the denial of the science of global climate change. This phenomenon seems to be more entrenched in America than anywhere else in the world and one has to ask “Why?” There are a large percentage of people in America that are “believers” of some kind. Believers by definition don’t require evidence to assert a position. For example, if someone says that they believe that the earth is flat in the face of evidence to the contrary, they just “believe” it. But that doesn’t make it true. Fact is true and belief is not. The real difference is simply this: Evidence-based assertions do not have to be “believed” because they have the benefit of facts to support the assertions, while belief-based assertions have faith but no facts for support and often fly in the face of the known laws of physics. Belief in levitation is an example of this.
The swing to denial of science-based conclusions in this country is a dangerous trend. Ignoring warnings about the ultimate shift in climate that will lead to disaster make the arrival the disaster even more disastrous. Lack of planning leads to unsuitable response. Educating children to “believe” rather than follow the trail of facts leads to an electorate that is easily led and easily deceived. This puts control of the country into the hands of believers or cynics who play the believers like a pipe organ. I see both of these already in place and working.
Who are these believers? Well, I have been taken to task for apparently confusing “conservative” with “evangelical” or “fundamentalist”. So with that in mind, I propose that the fundamental world view of some Christians and conservatives form the core of the denial mind set. Pounding the Bible and expounding on the “truth” of their own narrow view resonates with many Americans. Why? Because they lack the intellectual experience to see the conflict and see the obvious fallacies. They are unable to see through the raving to the evidence-based conclusions.
Unfortunately, much that is good about America is being co-opted by a small but vocal minority who denies reality and spout belief. This dangerous trend must be stopped and reversed if America is going to reclaim the position it once held in the world: A place with world-class universities where free thinking produced tremendous advantage for American industry and commerce; A place where foreign nationals, once educated, stayed to contribute their labor to an ever growing American corner on innovation and production. That seems to be going fast, and other places are catching up with America.
The swing to denial of science-based conclusions in this country is a dangerous trend. Ignoring warnings about the ultimate shift in climate that will lead to disaster make the arrival the disaster even more disastrous. Lack of planning leads to unsuitable response. Educating children to “believe” rather than follow the trail of facts leads to an electorate that is easily led and easily deceived. This puts control of the country into the hands of believers or cynics who play the believers like a pipe organ. I see both of these already in place and working.
Who are these believers? Well, I have been taken to task for apparently confusing “conservative” with “evangelical” or “fundamentalist”. So with that in mind, I propose that the fundamental world view of some Christians and conservatives form the core of the denial mind set. Pounding the Bible and expounding on the “truth” of their own narrow view resonates with many Americans. Why? Because they lack the intellectual experience to see the conflict and see the obvious fallacies. They are unable to see through the raving to the evidence-based conclusions.
Unfortunately, much that is good about America is being co-opted by a small but vocal minority who denies reality and spout belief. This dangerous trend must be stopped and reversed if America is going to reclaim the position it once held in the world: A place with world-class universities where free thinking produced tremendous advantage for American industry and commerce; A place where foreign nationals, once educated, stayed to contribute their labor to an ever growing American corner on innovation and production. That seems to be going fast, and other places are catching up with America.
Our response seems to be to fall back on “belief” and relegate science to the back seat.
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1 comment:
During a class discussion on this general subject (recognizing / avoiding logic failures in communication), one of my students told me that they were a global-warming denier because "the scientists" were Biblical Truth deniers. Apparently, truth is a zero-sum game.
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