Why people reject science

post by Psychohistorian · 2011-02-02T15:42:59.189Z · LW · GW · Legacy · 5 comments

Contents

5 comments

From the NYTimes. The central point:

 

Humans, he argues, are hard-wired to reject scientific conclusions that run counter to their instinctive belief that someone or something is out to get them.

 

5 comments

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comment by JoshuaZ · 2011-02-02T20:08:37.680Z · LW(p) · GW(p)

This doesn't seem to really be about science per se. It seems to be more that people reject claims regardless of their truth when the claims are associated with hostile tribes.

Replies from: mwengler
↑ comment by mwengler · 2011-02-02T20:29:57.320Z · LW(p) · GW(p)

Which means it is about human biases affecting rationality. On topic totally.

Replies from: JoshuaZ
↑ comment by JoshuaZ · 2011-02-02T23:58:00.275Z · LW(p) · GW(p)

Sure. Completely on topic. I upvoted it. I'm not sure why it has been downvoted.

comment by blogospheroid · 2011-02-03T05:17:28.276Z · LW(p) · GW(p)

It is almost a truism in business process re-engineering that you should always make people feel comfortable, whatever they do in the current process and explain to them the value that they will be adding in the new setup/process. If people feel insecure, it is very difficult to get their cooperation and your project will tend to fail, badly.

comment by Snowyowl · 2011-02-04T22:30:14.052Z · LW(p) · GW(p)

And if you reject science, you conclude that scientists are out to get you. The boot fits; upvoted.