As a postscript to yesterday's ‘Science or Belief' posting, I attended a lecture by Professor Alan Sokal last night, organised by Sense about Science. Prof Sokal wrote a spoof article 'Transgressing the boundaries: Towards a transformative hermeneutics of quantum gravity', which was published in a journal called 'Social Text' in 1996. It caused outrage among those who hold the view that the truth or falsity of a statement is relative to an individual or a social group. Sokal argues that science then becomes comparable to other ways of viewing reality, such as religion, myths, or astrology.
Sokal has lots of fun taking on those who lack clear thinking and a respect for evidence, but there is a deadly serious message in this if – as he suggested in his lecture – government policies are sometimes based on myths and superstition rather than sound science. On a more positive note he argues that we all use scientific method, basing many of our everyday decisions on evidence, although that doesn't mean we are all good at it!
So in attempting to understand what's safe and healthy to eat, let's all try to engage honestly in analysing the evidence and be prepared, as good scientists, to change our opinion if our cherished beliefs are no longer supported by the evidence.
