Mantus

After studying the Creationist movement for a while I’ve come to the conclusion that science is loosing credibility in the modern world. Scientists are viewed with mistrust, skepticism and sometimes even fear. This is a truly troubling though because in absence of science we are left with superstition which in no way replaces the benefits of scientific knowledge and usually sets us back.

I’m not here to pick on Creationism. This is not a religious issue; it’s an issue of human being reacting irrationally to fear and the unknown.

The anti-vaccination movement is a great example of scientific rejection. Vaccinations have saved thousands of lives across the globe. They also greatly lower the costs on public healthy by preventing disease and the cost of treatment. Their benefits are unquestionable. Yet this brilliant science is under attack by complete quackery. This is leaching money and resources from programs that could be used to save lives by forcing the medical establishment to defend itself in the social arena. There is no doubt in my mind that people like Jenny McCarthy have cost lives. In her own words she’s alright with that:

“I do believe sadly it’s going to take some diseases coming back to realize that we need to change and develop vaccines that are safe. If the vaccine companies are not listening to us, it’s their fucking fault that the diseases are coming back.” – JM

One would think that people who claim to be educated by the “University of Google” and follow their “maternal insight” would have little impact on social and political landscapes when pitted against science but this isn’t the case. Vaccination number are dropping in the US and England exposing increasing numbers of people to epidemics from diseases such as mumps and measles which were all but eliminated in decades past. People are willingly stepping into back into the Dark Age.

This isn’t the only case of rebellion against science; there are the global warming deniers; alternative medicine and organic foods are another bastion of scientific ignorance. Human beings were never the most rational species to begin with but it’s astounding how easily we fall back into superstition event when information and education is more readily available than ever.

It’s a curious phenomenon. People are not just rejecting science but replacing it with superstition. It is one thing to question authority – especially when we do not understand the subject at hand – and a rational being would seek to educate themselves to regain that power (after all, those with knowledge have power). However people seem to do something quite different: they ally themselves with those who question that same authority and, curiously, unquestionably swallow any misinformation handed their way.

I view this as a serious issue. Placing power in the hands of the few leads to abuse and corruption or worse: rejection and even destruction of knowledge. Logic and rational though do not survive mob mentality. Look at banning of stem cell research in the US – hampering medical research for almost a decade – all in the name of superstition. This is a political decision based on appeasing ignorance. Our painstakingly slow progress with climate change is another example of politics being timid in fear of loosing support from the ignorant masses. Decisions that cost lives and resources in the name of ignorance.

The question for me is how do we remedy this situation? What can make a human being more rational?