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Genuine request: what kinds of conversation / arguments tend to work for people who think science is cultish, and might help it to seem less so. This is of cour
by triplesec 10y ago
Genuine request: what kinds of conversation / arguments tend to work for people who think science is cultish, and might help it to seem less so. This is of course for those willing to engage with you rationally? (although counter-emotive arguments are also good, and maybe more effective). I have a Republican friend who will engage with my and she sees a 'groupthink' problem. Your advice may be invaluable in helping to open up discourse.
- inimino 10y agoYou weren't asking me, but... maybe it is a bit cultish? Many adopt it as a belief system and wear rationalism like a mantle. We just aren't that rational. I like Stephen Covey's formulation "Seek first to understand, then to be understood". If you can learn why she feels the way she does, you might find common ground.
- reitanqild 10y agoI don't think science is cultish. And I don't think I ever did, except for clinate sciences. The reason they appeared cultish to me was the way anyone who doesn't immediately believe it must obviously be a troll or a paid shill and must be attacked. Also the huge focus on "n x 1000 scientists can't be wrong" just screams bad science.