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Vavilov was prosecuted for political reasons not for his stance on genetics per se. Also painting Lysenko as a pseudoscientific snake oil seller is a bit reduc

Vavilov was prosecuted for political reasons not for his stance on genetics per se. Also painting Lysenko as a pseudoscientific snake oil seller is a bit reductionist. He did have some high level ideas that have been proven right by modern science in the field of epigenetics. He just greatly overestimated the importance of environment factors and his idea did not prove practical for large scale farming. He did so at a time when genetics was still far away from the agriculture revolution of modern day and did not yet offer much in terms of practical solutions. Did ideological reasons and certain structural deficiencies exist that explain the popularity of Lysenkoism? Sure. Though these problems exist in capitalist countries as well. Especially the social sciences are riddled with it. By the way, when someone tried to put a pseudo-Marxist spin on linguistics, claiming that all languages would have a common origin, it was Stalin himself who put a stop to it, arguing for more a honest and open debate. > It is generally recognized that no science can develop and flourish without a battle of opinions, without freedom of criticism. [1] [1] J.V. Stalin https://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/stalin/works/1950/jun/20.htm https://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/stalin/works/1950...

worik 6y ago
And before we condem Lysenko too thoroghly we should look at ourselves. In my country whole regions, once food baskets, are in danger of being retired because of the "...the agriculture revolution of modern day..." Build-ups of toxic chemicals in the soil from synthetic fertilisers are building up to levels where milk from cows grazed on the grass is not fit for human consumption Lysenko was a unfortunate fool, a man of his time. But we are not much better for all our "science". Yes he got genetics wrong, but the "green revolution" that ignored soil structure and microbial life has gotten things just as wrong
int_19h 6y ago
Lysenko and his followers presented intentionally rigged evidence to support their theories. If that's not pseudoscience, what is? As far as Marr and his "Japhetic theory" of linguistics - sure, Stalin took him down... 15 years after Marr died. And until then, it was the officially blessed interpretation, and criticizing it could get one accused of "bourgeois nationalism" quite easily.
- fuf_998 6y ago
  Could you please give any info on "intentionally rigged evidence"? It is generally viewed as a problem of reproducibility in science. I am working on the topic and this is particularly important. It seems very hard to have a solid proof of any fraud except diary notes, confessions of others.

worik 6y ago

And before we condem Lysenko too thoroghly we should look at ourselves. In my country whole regions, once food baskets, are in danger of being retired because of the "...the agriculture revolution of modern day..." Build-ups of toxic chemicals in the soil from synthetic fertilisers are building up to levels where milk from cows grazed on the grass is not fit for human consumption Lysenko was a unfortunate fool, a man of his time. But we are not much better for all our "science". Yes he got genetics wrong, but the "green revolution" that ignored soil structure and microbial life has gotten things just as wrong

int_19h 6y ago

Lysenko and his followers presented intentionally rigged evidence to support their theories. If that's not pseudoscience, what is? As far as Marr and his "Japhetic theory" of linguistics - sure, Stalin took him down... 15 years after Marr died. And until then, it was the officially blessed interpretation, and criticizing it could get one accused of "bourgeois nationalism" quite easily.

fuf_998 6y ago
Could you please give any info on "intentionally rigged evidence"? It is generally viewed as a problem of reproducibility in science. I am working on the topic and this is particularly important. It seems very hard to have a solid proof of any fraud except diary notes, confessions of others.