Sean B. Carroll is Professor of Molecular Biology and Genetics at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and University of Wisconsin. He is a member of the National Academy of Sciences. A prolific writer, researcher and often appears on NOVA makes the book I finished a tour de force. If anyone knows about evolution at the molecular level it would be him. What is really amazing is he has a firm grasp on the causes of evolution denialism, vaccination denialism and the danger of with global warming. He argues that there are six common tactics that deniers of evolution, vaccination and indeed global warming make. I will point them out here. 1. Doubt the science, make every effort to try and throw doubt on to the science. 2. Question the motives and integrity of scientists, 3. Magnify disagreements among scientist and cite gadflies as authorities, 4. Exaggerate the potential harm, 5. Appeal to personal freedom. When he is talking about the anti vaccination group he also brings up a opinion by the supreme court that personal beliefs cannot subordinate the safety of an entire community. and 6. acceptance repudiates key philosophy, which means the cherished ideology is thrown out if one accepts the evidence and therefore must be denied. He goes into the current science and discoveries of genomic and the mechanism of evolution, which is in itself very forcefully confirms evolution. The final idea that is so very true. "When the scientific process is abandoned the lesson throughout history is failure or outright disaster in human affairs."
This book is going into the recommended reads in the book store.
Peace
Skeptical DoDo
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