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| Religion Forum Index » Christian Orthodox Forum » Denialism... |
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| ---agg---... |
 Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2009 10:39 pm |
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Denialism "is the refusal to accept an empirically verifiable reality.
It is an essentially irrational action that withholds validation of a
historical experience or event."
Anthropologist Didier Fassin distinguishes between denial that he
defines as "the empirical observation that reality and truth are being
denied" and denialism that he defines as "an idealogical position
whereby one systematically reacts by refusing reality and truth".
Individuals, or groups who reject propositions on which a scientific or
scholarly consensus exists are said to be engaging in denialism when
they use rhetorical tactics to give the appearance of argument or
legitimate debate, when in actuality there is none.
The term has been used with "Holocaust denialism", and "AIDS denialism".
Other scientific facts and theories underpinning vaccination, climate
change, and evolution have also been subject to attacks by people who
deny the validity of the underlying science.
Illegitimate methodology and tactics
Denialism is a form of propaganda covering a variety of activities. It
can be as simple as like-minded individuals signing letters of dissent,
or as elaborate as professional grey or black propaganda campaigns by
advertising and marketing agencies.
Denialism can arise from personal ideologies, or desire for profit.
Industry groups may seek to protect markets from damaging facts and
information. Political groups may work to advance their agendas.
Combinations of these may work in concert with interest groups on issues
of mutual importance. Despite the disparity between these groups and the
motives behind them, the tactics used by denialists are largely similar.
Common features include:
- Conspiracism - Suggesting scientists have an ulterior motive for their
research, or that they are part of some hidden plan or agenda.
- Selectivity - Relying upon discredited or flawed work supporting their
idea while dismissing more credible work; presenting discredited or
superseded papers to make a field look like it is based on weak
research. Inflating favorable 'evidence' while discounting the
contradictory, often while misrepresenting the significance of each. The
selective use of evidence by denialists includes quote mining and cherry
picking.
- False experts - Citing paid, partisan scientists or self-appointed
'experts,' whose credentials are often in an unrelated field.
- Impossible expectations - Seeking to prevent the implementation of
sound policies or acceptance of a theory by citing the absence of
'complete' or 'absolute' knowledge.
- Misrepresentations and logical fallacies - Denialists sometimes employ
logical fallacies: red herring; straw man; appeal to consequences; false
analogy. An example of the misuse of analogy in arguments is the
watchmaker analogy. A common misrepresentation used in the intelligent
design movement is the intentional use of the term Darwinism when what
is being objected to is evolution. An example of an appeal to
consequences is the common neo-creationist claim that an acceptance of
evolution (Darwinism) leads to social ills such as the atrocities
committed by Hitler's Nazi regime, providing also an example of the
reductio ad Hitlerum fallacy often used by denialists and an example of
cherry-picking, since Hitler also appealed to religion, germ theory, and
animal husbandry. Another common fallacy, often used in conjunction with
impossible expectations, is the false dilemma fallacy, whereby unless
there is an absolute proof of an assertion, the assertion is claimed false.
Additional propaganda techniques that, while sometimes convincing, are
not necessarily valid include: flag-waving, glittering generalities,
thought-terminating clichés, intentional vagueness, oversimplification,
rationalization, slogans, stereotyping, testimonial, unstated assumption.
Ideological denialism
Ideologies that conflict with commonly accepted scientific theories or
facts can drive their holders to engage in personal forms of denial,
either to favor their personal beliefs, or to avoid having to reconcile
those beliefs with contradictory evidence.
Common forms of denialism arising from ideologies are Holocaust denial,
Holodomor denial, AIDS denialism, the vaccine controversy, and the
creation-evolution controversy.
Corporate denialism
International corporations such as ExxonMobil have been criticized for
contributing to scientists and scientific experimentation questioning
the scientific consensus on global climate change. ExxonMobil has
strenuously denied the accusations, stating that "The recycling of this
type of discredited conspiracy theory diverts attention from the real
challenge at hand: how to provide the energy needed to improve global
living standards while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions." Newsweek
and Mother Jones have published articles stating corporations are
funding the "denial industry".
Political denialism
The Bush Administration's replacement of previous science advisers with
industry experts or scientists tied to industry, and its refusal to
submit the Kyoto Protocol for ratification due to uncertainties they
asserted were present in the climate change issue, have been cited as
examples of politically motivated denialism by the press. The general
class of genocide denial, of which holocaust denial is a subset, is
another form of political denialism. |
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| Alexander Arnakis... |
| Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2009 11:30 pm |
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On Sun, 01 Nov 2009 21:39:40 -0600, ---agg--- <aggreen at (no spam) echoes.net>
wrote:
Quote: Denialism "is the refusal to accept an empirically verifiable reality.
It is an essentially irrational action that withholds validation of a
historical experience or event."
It's perfectly understandable why certain corporate polluters would
"deny" global warming. What's not understandable is why the dittoheads
-- who know nothing about science -- would let themselves be used by
these corporate interests. Perhaps it's all part of the political
tribalism of American politics, where "one's enemy's enemy is one's
friend." |
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| ---agg---... |
| Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2009 11:56 pm |
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On 11/1/2009 10:30 PM, Alexander Arnakis wrote:
Quote: On Sun, 01 Nov 2009 21:39:40 -0600, ---agg---<aggreen at (no spam) echoes.net
wrote:
Denialism "is the refusal to accept an empirically verifiable reality.
It is an essentially irrational action that withholds validation of a
historical experience or event."
It's perfectly understandable why certain corporate polluters would
"deny" global warming. What's not understandable is why the dittoheads
-- who know nothing about science -- would let themselves be used by
these corporate interests. Perhaps it's all part of the political
tribalism of American politics, where "one's enemy's enemy is one's
friend."
***The corporate polluters never run ads promoting the dumping of waste
in the backyards of these rednecks. The dittoheads aren't exactly the
most astute when it comes to science and current affairs. The corporate
political proxies, whether it be hate radio or candidates, campaign on
wedge propaganda. Yank the redneck strings with slogans about gays,
welfare queens, Muslims, blacks, Mexican illegals, nationalism...... you
get the picture. Racist, Catholic priest Charles Coughlin was the master
at this game, putting away Boss Limbaugh with his 40 million weekly
listenership. This is precisely how those same teabaggers decrying
waste, deficits, and government overreach today could have voted for the
last administration twice without so much as a peep.
***After almost two decades of dittohead indoctrination, it's not a
surprise these people act in ways against their own self interest. The
Know Nothings never went away, you see. Only changed masters. |
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| ---agg---... |
| Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2009 12:13 am |
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On 11/1/2009 10:30 PM, Alexander Arnakis wrote:
Quote: On Sun, 01 Nov 2009 21:39:40 -0600, ---agg---<aggreen at (no spam) echoes.net
wrote:
Denialism "is the refusal to accept an empirically verifiable reality.
It is an essentially irrational action that withholds validation of a
historical experience or event."
It's perfectly understandable why certain corporate polluters would
"deny" global warming. What's not understandable is why the dittoheads
-- who know nothing about science -- would let themselves be used by
these corporate interests. Perhaps it's all part of the political
tribalism of American politics, where "one's enemy's enemy is one's
friend."
***I'll add a personal anecdote, while I'm at it. My town is
overwhelmingly Republican. Running as a Democrat for city council? Dead
in the water. Even that being the case, none of the current city council
reps ran on platforms of handing out building permits like candy to
developers. No. They ran on the usual bullshit...... "My opponent is
less pro-life than I, I supported Bush's War on Terror balls to the
wall, 101%", and on and on. The sleaze candidate is elected. Lo and
behold, new strip malls, another Lowes, and, what's that? Yes. A new
Target appears in the middle of a residential neighborhood. One young
good man, who successfully as a private citizen rallied hundreds of
neighbors and fought off a highway expansion and another road project
targeted at pristine forest and running trails, ran in the Republican
primaries. Despite his record of valuable service to the community, he
lost handily. Why? He's pro-choice. He's pro-environment. He thinks
about the issues. He said business isn't always right. The local
business interests dumped massive money into the campaign to his
eventual defeat. There you go, Mr. Arnakis. It's a bullshit world we
live in. |
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