I’m told that there was a period of history where only the priests were literate and therefore only they could read the Bible. Or maybe it was written in Latin and only they knew how to read it, or something. Anyway, as a result, they were free to interpret it any way they liked, and they used that power to control the masses.
Goodness me, it’s a good thing we Have Science Now and can use it to free ourselves from the overbearing grip of Religion!
Oh, totally unrelatedly, the average modern person is scientifically illiterate and absorbs their knowledge of what is “scientific” through a handful of big news sources and through cultural osmosis.
Moral: Be wary of packages labeled “science” and be especially wary of social pressure to believe implausible-sounding claims just because they’re “scientific”. There are many ways for that beautiful name to get glued onto random memes.
“Science confirms video games are good” is essentially the same statement as “The bible confirms video games are bad” just with the authority changed. Luckily there remains a closer link between the authroity “Science” and truth than the authority “The bible” and truth so it’s still an improvement.
Most people still update their worldview based upon whatever their tribe as agreed upon as their central authority. I’m having a hard time critisising people for doing this, however. This is something we all do! If I see Nick Bostrom writing something slightly crazy that I don’t fully understand, I will still give credence to his view simply for being an authority in my worldview.
I feel like my criticism of people blindly believing anything labeled “science” is essentially criticising people for not being smart enough to choose better authorities, but that’s a criticism that applies to everyone who doesn’t have the smartest authority (who just so happens to be Nick Bostrom, so we’re safe).
Maybe there’s a point to be made about not blindly trusting any authority, but I’m not smart enough to make that point, so I’ll default to someone who is.
Most people still update their worldview based upon whatever their tribe as agreed upon as their central authority. I’m having a hard time critisising people for doing this, however. This is something we all do!
Oh yes, that’s certainly true! My point is that anybody who has the floor can say that science has proven XYZ when it hasn’t, and if their audience isn’t scientifically literate then they won’t be able to notice. That’s why I lead with the Dark Ages example where priests got to interpret the bible however was convenient for them.
I’m told that there was a period of history where only the priests were literate and therefore only they could read the Bible. Or maybe it was written in Latin and only they knew how to read it, or something. Anyway, as a result, they were free to interpret it any way they liked, and they used that power to control the masses.
Goodness me, it’s a good thing we Have Science Now and can use it to free ourselves from the overbearing grip of Religion!
Oh, totally unrelatedly, the average modern person is scientifically illiterate and absorbs their knowledge of what is “scientific” through a handful of big news sources and through cultural osmosis.
Hmm.
Moral: Be wary of packages labeled “science” and be especially wary of social pressure to believe implausible-sounding claims just because they’re “scientific”. There are many ways for that beautiful name to get glued onto random memes.
“Science confirms video games are good” is essentially the same statement as “The bible confirms video games are bad” just with the authority changed. Luckily there remains a closer link between the authroity “Science” and truth than the authority “The bible” and truth so it’s still an improvement.
Most people still update their worldview based upon whatever their tribe as agreed upon as their central authority. I’m having a hard time critisising people for doing this, however. This is something we all do! If I see Nick Bostrom writing something slightly crazy that I don’t fully understand, I will still give credence to his view simply for being an authority in my worldview.
I feel like my criticism of people blindly believing anything labeled “science” is essentially criticising people for not being smart enough to choose better authorities, but that’s a criticism that applies to everyone who doesn’t have the smartest authority (who just so happens to be Nick Bostrom, so we’re safe).
Maybe there’s a point to be made about not blindly trusting any authority, but I’m not smart enough to make that point, so I’ll default to someone who is.
Oh yes, that’s certainly true! My point is that anybody who has the floor can say that science has proven XYZ when it hasn’t, and if their audience isn’t scientifically literate then they won’t be able to notice. That’s why I lead with the Dark Ages example where priests got to interpret the bible however was convenient for them.