Uncharitably, “Trust the Science” is a talking point in debates that have some component which one portrays as “fact-based” and which one wants to make an “argument” about based on the authority of some “experts”. In this context, “trust the science” means “believe what I say”.
Charitably, it means trusting that thinking honestly about some topic, seeking truth and making careful observations and measurements actually leads to knowledge, that knowledge is inteligibly attainable. This isn’t obvious, which is why there’s something there to be trusted. It means trusting that the knowledge gained this way can be useful, that it’s worth at least hearing out people who seem or claim to have it, that it’s worth stopping for a moment to honestly question one’s own motivations and priors, the origins of one’s beliefs and to ponder the possible consequences in case of failure, whenever one willingly disbelieves or dismisses that knowledge. In this context, “trust the science” means “talk to me and we’ll figure it out”.
Uncharitably, “Trust the Science” is a talking point in debates that have some component which one portrays as “fact-based” and which one wants to make an “argument” about based on the authority of some “experts”. In this context, “trust the science” means “believe what I say”.
Charitably, it means trusting that thinking honestly about some topic, seeking truth and making careful observations and measurements actually leads to knowledge, that knowledge is inteligibly attainable. This isn’t obvious, which is why there’s something there to be trusted. It means trusting that the knowledge gained this way can be useful, that it’s worth at least hearing out people who seem or claim to have it, that it’s worth stopping for a moment to honestly question one’s own motivations and priors, the origins of one’s beliefs and to ponder the possible consequences in case of failure, whenever one willingly disbelieves or dismisses that knowledge. In this context, “trust the science” means “talk to me and we’ll figure it out”.