Do you agree with this?

Question

"Science is not a matter of opinion. Its a matter of evidence and deduction."
Someone else answered this in a previous question and although it sounds good, I dont know if it is true.

Science should be about evidence and deduction, but dont you think politics has taken a place in the scientific community nowadays as well?

I think the global warming debate is a perfect example of this.

If politics are now playing a part then doesnt opinion suddenly factor in a lot more then maybe it should?

ahmad
good point
you can have diff opinions on the same evidence

gabriel
huh?

Justin
Would you still claim their opinion holds more weight if you just found out their research facility was just awarded a huge grant to further their research in whatever it is they are supporting that might be a bit controversial or popular politically?

Jesus
You seem to lack the ability to use grammar correctly. Would you like to rephrase that statement so it actually makes sense?

I see you did, lol

Jesus, if you dont like me or my questions then you dont have to respond to them.

Answer 1

Politics and science need to be kept separate. Opinions and political agendas have no business in the arena of science.

I can see where some scientists might be getting involved in the political arena by lending their opinions to topics like global warming, but they should never let politics influence the scientific process. Furthermore, when a scientist gives an opinion on a scientific issue, their opinion carries more weight than a layperson commenting on the same issue.

EDIT
Your additional information is exactly why science and politics need to be kept separate. In order to accept that scientific opinions are valid, we must be able to trust that they were formed by observation and deduction and not by political pressure.

That's not to say government shouldn't fund science, just that politics needs to be kept out.

Answer 2

That's why there is peer review. It's an arduous process.

The Bush administration has politicized science, encouraging daft jobs like former Sen. Santorum to try to add ID to the No Child Left Behind Act. All of the 'scientists' stepping up to deny global warming are not climatologists, but people like non-practicing Dr. Michael Chrichton, who has political reasons.

Ben Stein is a mathematician who is suddenly an expert on evolutionary biology and is coming out with a political film that claims to be scientific.

Evidence is evidence.

Answer 3

as humans we will most always be skeptical of the "facts" which have been presented to us if we haven't witnessed their creation first hand. but, of course we are not able to verify the science (or opinions) which directly effect us, so i think it is best to get information from opposing viewpoints (as there are few matters regarded with absolute certitude), and then make a judgement with regard to my personal ethics. the best you can do is try to be well informed. i think politics has run into several territories, including science, which it does not belong. for instance, i think politics has been entwined with religion far too long in this country, as religion in essence satifies the supernatural perplexities of individuals in different ways, and it is misused when masses define themselves as a separate entity from the rest of humanity, be it jews or christians, etc. politics have manipulated the vote of major religious groups by their ridiculous 3-point platforms (abortion, the war, global warming) which are specifically designed to please a majority based on their religion even though a number of problems are being overlooked. anyway, a political reform departing from the 2-party system must take place (perhaps more power should be given to localized areas or states), because as seen in these past close pres. elections, there doesn't seem to be a majority, and real working people are getting screwed.

Answer 4

Science, Politics, Religion somehow there all stuck to each other... "Science is not a matter of opinion. Its a matter of evidence and deduction." and Theories. In life its been all about opinions. Peoples morals and ethics; They were all passed down by peoples opinions. I think...

Answer 5

Science is also a matter of interpretation and re-interpretation. We are limited by what we can understand about implications of evidence at a given time in history and technological advancement. For example, there are other interpretations for the same evidence besides any of the currently debated and entrenched interpretations about evolution.

Answer 6

certainly, there are minds at work trying to remedy the problems that occur to the natural elements resulting from humanity's decisions.
a lot of my understanding of nature and science came from "the nature of things" hosted by suzuki. but there are two frames of mind at work here. that of the alarmists who cry foul about the thing that are amiss. there is also the people who devise ways to live with what we have, regardless of what is damaged or usurped.
this is the politics you speak of. i'm rooting for the guys who find the ways that we can adjust to the problems that humanity creates.

Answer 7

Everything has a meaning.A person can correctly say that the Bible predicted the largest growth in the knowledge explosion.Wars,Rumors of wars,Earthquakes in diverse places,The Bible says you will not know if it is winter or summer,Plagues,Famines,or you can just say all this is a coincidence,Or you can call it Science.But politicians may use this as a stepping stone to say we can fix all of these problems.And I believe we can.But we all have to help.

Answer 8

The statement in question is an indisputable fact. However, people will still try to twist scientific knowledge to fit their agenda.

Creationists, for example...

Answer 9

PRO 8:22 The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.

Answer 10

You are suggesting a debate, yet you lack understanding of the words. hahahahahahahahahahah
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