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The War on Science

Who's Waging It, Why It Matters, What We Can Do About It

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The War on Science

By: Shawn Lawrence Otto
Narrated by: Peter Berkrot
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About this listen

"Wherever the people are well informed," Thomas Jefferson wrote, "they can be trusted with their own government." But what happens when they are not? In every issue of modern society - from climate change to vaccinations, transportation to technology, health care to defense - we are in the midst of an unprecedented expansion of scientific progress and a simultaneous expansion of danger. At the very time we need them most, scientists and the idea of objective knowledge are being bombarded by a vast, well-funded, three-part war on science: the identity politics war on science, the ideological war on science, and the industrial war on science.

The result is an unprecedented erosion of thought in Western democracies as voters, policymakers, and justices actively ignore the evidence from science, leaving major policy decisions to be based more on the demands of the most strident voices.

Shawn Lawrence Otto's provocative new book investigates the historical, social, philosophical, political, and emotional reasons for why and how evidence-based politics are in decline and authoritarian politics are once again on the rise, and offers a vision, an argument, and some compelling solutions to bring us to our collective senses, before it's too late.

©2016 Shawn Otto (P)2016 Post Hypnotic Press Inc. History History & Philosophy Philosophy Political Science Politics & Government Science
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As a scientist whom struggled to understand how misinformation has become so powerful and dangerous in recent years, I found this book very enlightening. Although the book focuses mostly on the US, cultural trends there tend to spill out into the rest of the Western World. The most important example of this is climate change denial. Understanding how it was manufactured and the psychological mechanisms that allow it to propagate are vital in fighting it.

Despite the previous reviewer's assertions, this book is not a plea for more research funding. It is a plea for 1) everyone to accept the differences between subjective opinions and objective facts, 2) scientists, educators, and journalists to communicate scientific issues more effectively to the public, and 3) for the public and politicians to understand the importance of being scientifically informed. The book is not biased either, it targets anti-science on both sides of the political spectrum. However, ideologues will inevitably see bias when presented with an impartial view of the world.

Essential for those concerned about the future

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As a retired science writer and technology consultant, I looked forward to a satisfying listen. Instead, I heard a boring trope of complaints going back to Plato. Which can basically be summarised as "If only they understood us properly, they would give us more money". Despite careful window-dressing to create a facade of even-handed treatment, left liberal bias shines through.Otto presents very old arguments recycled with few modern examples. Much of the approach is distinctly unscientific. For example, pleading for agreement with " the scientific consensus" on matters like anthropogenic climate change without acknowledging the fundamental role that scepticism and debate play in scientific progress. Or advocating a balanced approach instead of, as the objective facts demand, a solid rebuttal to anti-GMO and anti-vaccination hysteria.

The book also displays, as do most advocates for "more money and respect for the wannabe philosopher kings". a distressing naivety about the political process.

The narrative is particularly irritating to a non-American, being delivered in a breathy, over-dramatised tone in a whiny, patronising North American accent. One can only speculate about the motives of the reviewer who gave it a 5 star rating.

Exaggerated left liberal plea for yet more funds

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