Comments on: The Emperor Has No Clothes

By: weird

weird — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 00:01:11 +0000

I can’t help but feel that we’ve been “hood winked” into this debate by the politicians, instead of being aware of what God’s word says. This thought may be borne out by the fact this is the twelfth entry for this particular blog, and (if I’m not mistaken) the highest number of comments for any one topic. There is a massive amount of evidence corroborating global warming. There is an enormous amount of evidence suggesting that global warming is not occuring! So what can one do? Exegetical (and subsequent hermeneutical) studies will illustrate how Yahweh wants us to care for His world. But don’t jump on the band wagon of global warming (just because this is politically motivated subject) at the expense of learning what the Lord wants us to do in other areas of life. Of course, debate the subject, but do so (as Calvin suggests) in a non-politicised, scientific arena. Oh, and one last point: be aware that there are lies, damn lies and then statistics!

By: xrzax

xrzax — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 15:27:12 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XttV2C6B8pU

just to say google video had their version of the global warming swindle taken down after about a day (maybe the head of google got a death threat or something), but its still up on youtube (above link)..

By: Si

Si — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 14:04:45 +0000

I must say I find this whole concept of “post-normal” science very troubling. Although I haven’t yet had time to study it properly, a quick search on Google Scholar turns up loads of articles about it. The basic premise seems to be that in difficult circumstances where decisions must be made imminently, sufficient knowledge to scientifically evaluate the situation may be not be available, thus we must instead rely on experience and consensus to guide decisions.

This approach is not simply deemed relevant to the hypothesis of man-made Global Warming (though this is a big one), but a wide range of politically sensitive issues are also discussed [1], such as GM foods (and amusingly the Millennium bug – note the date of the article). Nevertheless, I can see that there are problems – politicians, in general, only last a few years and so need quick solutions to problems (perceived or otherwise) – solutions that may not be immediately available. However, science is constantly subject to refactoring and reevaluation – we cannot simply make a decision because one is needed imminently.

However, the article says that:

“The previous belief that scientists should and could provide certain, objective factual information for decision-makers is now being increasingly recognised as simplistic and immature. It is appreciated that the commitments of scientific advisors can legitimately influence their judgement on issues where there are deep and unresolvable uncertainties. When they enter a negotiation, they cannot leave their values at the door. Their integrity lies not in their ‘disin- terestedness’, but in their honourable behaviour as stakeholders.”

So we basically rely on our scientists being good people. Science becomes politicised, consensus becomes “the truth”. This can surely not be right. As we saw with the Millennium bug, people tend to jump on band-wagons – sadly, including well meaning Christians. Obviously that didn’t have too many negative (and indeed many positive) effects though. However, the higher the stakes, the more serious the effects may be (e.g. stifling African growth).

(The author reserves the right to be wrong )

[1] – Ravetz, Jerome (1999) ‘What is Post-Normal Science?’, Futures 31: 647-653.

By: Calvin Smith

Calvin Smith — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 16:42:16 +0000

I discuss political Islam in Europe in the latest edition of the Evangelical Review of Society and Politics (www.evangelicalreview.com). I think the full text is available there.

By: xrzax

xrzax — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 16:38:10 +0000

sorry, yeah the link for londonistan talk by her is:

http://multimedia.heritage.org/mp3/Lehrman-051006.mp3

By: xrzax

xrzax — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 16:30:51 +0000

ive heard some of phillips’ ‘londonistan’ talks on mp3, shes very much been influenced by bat ye’or and her theory of ‘eurabia’ – do you know much about this whole ‘islamization of europe’ thing (thats a whole another post i expect)? ill read the article you link later tonight, looks interesting..

By: Calvin Smith

Calvin Smith — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 13:30:03 +0000

Thanks for that. Concerning politicised science (as discussed on the site you mention) Melanie Philips critiques a piece by a scientist who openly rejects empiricism and argues for what is referred to as `post-normal science’. Read her views here: http://www.melaniephillips.com/diary/?p=1469

By: xrzax

xrzax — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 13:20:23 +0000

hi calvin,
just wondering if youve heard of or read ‘the politically incorrect guide to science’ by tom bethall?
you can read about it here on amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Politically-Incorrect-Guide-Science/dp/089526031X

it might be up your street, he talks about the global warming hoax, the oil hoax, the darwinism hoax etc.