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A problem with science vs popular opinion is that science is gathering new knowledge that justifies reevaluating our old (often simple) patterns and adopting ne
by drewcoo 3y ago
A problem with science vs popular opinion is that science is gathering new knowledge that justifies reevaluating our old (often simple) patterns and adopting new (often more complex) ones. But people are resistant to change and also prefer simple solutions. I haven't seen any general solution to that.
The cases you cite began with simplified solutions, to try to get people to adopt change. Then it turned out that the solutions were actually oversimplified and harmful without broader context.
What should we do when clearly doing nothing is also a problem?
- 6510 3y agoCould write laws as if() else() foo = bar*42 with the variables obtained from scientific studies. You cant glue them together directly but we could periodically randomly select qualified scientists, force and pay them to review the literature then set the variables for that period. Not that we should get rid of manual tinkering/rewriting/expanding/deleting laws but to have some more gradual transitions. Say sentences starting like "Since we know it is eating fat that makes you fat[committee VI] it is now forbidden..." Would be automatically suspended if committee VII does not agree to elevate the hypothesis to that level of certainty. A bit like a legalese code of law generator.*
- tsimionescu 3y ago> What should we do when clearly doing nothing is also a problem? For nutrition at least, doing nothing to try to influence eating habits from the 50s or so would have almost certainly been better than what we have done. Probably better than current recommendations are as well, given the history and given the abysmal quality of nutritional studies.