4 ms·

Another framing of this: good scientists are comfortable with cognitive dissonance, which is a trait held by only a minority of most populations. Consequently,

Another framing of this: good scientists are comfortable with cognitive dissonance, which is a trait held by only a minority of most populations. Consequently, this means good science and politics are inherently at odds.

PaulDavisThe1st 5y ago
This doesn't follow at all, unless you are also making the claim that if you are comfortable with cognitive dissonance, you will be unable to participate in communications with others in ways that do not make them uncomfortable.
- biomcgary 5y ago
  As noted in a HN post from a few days ago, nuance doesn't really scale in communication. There exist a good number of questions where the best scientific answers are "unknown" or "possibly with X degree of confidence". A politician, a special interest, or even the average individual wants to set policy now, not wait for an answer.
pdonis 5y ago
> good scientists are comfortable with cognitive dissonance I'm not sure "cognitive dissonance" is the right term for what I was referring to, although it's related. "Cognitive dissonance" means that things you think you know appear to be at odds with each other. But "not knowing" just means you don't know; you don't hold any belief with enough confidence to even make it a possible source of cognitive dissonance. The skills of being able to live with each of these things are probably related, but I don't think they're quite the same thing. > good science and politics are inherently at odds In the sense that politics is set up to insist on answers to questions whether they are justified by current knowledge or not, yes, I agree.
- biomcgary 5y ago
  You are right, of course, that cognitive dissonance is a slightly different thing. When a scientist has an inherently probabilistic epistemology, apparent conflict between known "facts" does not lead to cognitive dissonance, but the same facts (to the extent that they are attended to) often cause dissonance for the general population.
agumonkey 5y ago
Maybe explicit dissonance, but I assume most people are in cognitive dissonance with their view of reality, they just brush it off fast enough.

PaulDavisThe1st 5y ago

This doesn't follow at all, unless you are also making the claim that if you are comfortable with cognitive dissonance, you will be unable to participate in communications with others in ways that do not make them uncomfortable.

biomcgary 5y ago
As noted in a HN post from a few days ago, nuance doesn't really scale in communication. There exist a good number of questions where the best scientific answers are "unknown" or "possibly with X degree of confidence". A politician, a special interest, or even the average individual wants to set policy now, not wait for an answer.

pdonis 5y ago

> good scientists are comfortable with cognitive dissonance I'm not sure "cognitive dissonance" is the right term for what I was referring to, although it's related. "Cognitive dissonance" means that things you think you know appear to be at odds with each other. But "not knowing" just means you don't know; you don't hold any belief with enough confidence to even make it a possible source of cognitive dissonance. The skills of being able to live with each of these things are probably related, but I don't think they're quite the same thing. > good science and politics are inherently at odds In the sense that politics is set up to insist on answers to questions whether they are justified by current knowledge or not, yes, I agree.

biomcgary 5y ago
You are right, of course, that cognitive dissonance is a slightly different thing. When a scientist has an inherently probabilistic epistemology, apparent conflict between known "facts" does not lead to cognitive dissonance, but the same facts (to the extent that they are attended to) often cause dissonance for the general population.

agumonkey 5y ago

Maybe explicit dissonance, but I assume most people are in cognitive dissonance with their view of reality, they just brush it off fast enough.