Now on ScienceBlogs: Using Reputation to Save the Oceans
An irregular exploration of the struggle between the power of rational discourse and the scientific method on one hand, and the forces of superstition and dogma on the other. Mostly regarding climate change, though.
James Hrynyshyn is a freelance science journalist based in western North Carolina, where he tries to put degrees in marine biology and journalism to good use.
The Demon-Haunted World:
Science as a Candle
in the Dark,
by Carl Sagan
(A
review)
The Doubter's Companion:
by John Ralston Saul (Excerpts)
Skeptic Magazine: www.skeptic.com
Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal: www.csicop.org
A poem by Yehuda Amichai:
The
Place
Where We Are Right
The Meaning of the
Island of Doubt
By doubting we come to inquiry; and through inquiry we perceive truth.
--- Peter Abelard
Undisguised clarity is easily mistaken for arrogance.
-- Richard Dawkins
As for evolution, it happened. Deal with it.
-- Michael Shermer.
"There is no need to sally forth, for it remains true that those things
which make us human are, curiously enough, always close at hand.
Resolve, then, that on this very ground, with small flags waving, and
tiny blasts of tinny trumpets, we have met the enemy, and not only may
he be ours, he may be us."
--Walt Kelly
« Brave New World, Part I | Main | What do you call the anti-global warming crowd? »
Posted on: November 18, 2008 4:14 PM, by James Hrynyshyn
Mostly because I'm tired of being a pessimist. But there's also things like this:
"Delay is not an option. Denial is no longer acceptable." Gotta love that.
h/t to Reader Brian D for directing me to the video. Much better than the print coverage of same.
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Comments
Have you spotted the news about the UK Government passing a climate change bill committing the country to an 80% reduction on 1990 levels by 2050, with 5 yearly carbon budgets? Apparently this passed nearly unanimously. I'd appreciate your comments on whether this represents a template for the rest of the world...
Keep up the good fight, by the way. I occasionally get depressed too, but that's no way to live.
Posted by: Stephen | November 18, 2008 6:42 PM
Why not trade pessimism for realism? A speech is easy. Real solutions will not be so easy. The truth is that delay still is an option, and many powerful people still believe that denial is acceptable.
Let's see what Obama and the new Congress actually do before we declare victory.
Posted by: J. Clifford | November 18, 2008 8:27 PM
The guy needs to get a new chair! That one is wonky.
Posted by: paulm | November 19, 2008 1:04 AM
Well, he is getting a new chair. The one behind the desk in the White House.
And J. Clifford: what I liked most about the speech embedded above is Obama's admission that it won't be easy. If for no other reason, Obama deserves the benefit of the (island of) doubt because he's not just telling us what we want to here. For a change.
Of course, I remain skeptical. But the guy isn't in office yet. So it's not time to crank up the cynicism just yet
Posted by: James Hrynyshyn | November 19, 2008 8:55 AM
You are a mindless loon. Your parrotings are worthless. Stop wasting perfectly good internet space.
Posted by: Canuck the Yuck | November 20, 2008 9:42 AM