FASCINATING Mother J article: "The Science of Why We Don't Believe Science"

[JAnthony]

"Scientific evidence is highly susceptible to misinterpretation. Giving ideologues scientific data that's relevant to their beliefs is like unleashing them in the motivated-reasoning equivalent of a candy store"

.................

"One study showed that not even Bush's own words could change the minds of Bush voters who believed there was an Iraq-Al Qaeda link"

[sakabatou]

1. Link please

[muriel_volestrangler]

2. Here:

http://motherjones.com/politics/2011/03/denial-science-chris-mooney?page=1

[JAnthony]

5. Thanks, I don't know why it didn't print here in my

first post... Usually Mother Jones adds a link.

[patrice]

3. "Knowledge" is contextual. That's what makes it fascinating.

Too often it is removed from its context, or the context is artificially limited by somekind of agenda.

[Taverner]

4. It's because Fundies are in a state of arrested development

They talk to invisible friends, think everything around them is a "sign", they get in heated arguments over minutia, don't trust anything older wiser people say, close their minds to anything new

Sounds like my kids when they were three

[True Earthling]

6. The point of the article is that ideologues on BOTH sides interpret facts

evidence and data to conform to their preconceived beliefs and biases. The repubs do not have monopoly of believing only what they WANT to believe... Plenty of company here on DU.

[Taverner]

8. At times, yes...but I do think the Fundies take it to a level above and beyond

There's a difference between using the Bible as a one-size-fits-all guide (I am reminded of the bumpersticker "No matter the question, the answer is 'Jesus'") for anything and everything, and the unconscious use of statistics abuse.

[True Earthling]

9. The dems are more rooted in science... repubs are more reliant on ancient books and rumors

of ancient miracles.

[JAnthony]

10. I see few people at DU rejecting science on climate, evolution, or

any other major body of scientific research.

I there ARE some, please point that out, thanks.

True, political opinions about an issue are not science, but I fail to see a rejection of science here.

[AngryAmish]

7. Gotta agree with Earthling

It is not idealogues. It is humans. Everybody just make things up to conform to prior prejudice. There is a ton of science on this.

[RagAss]

11. My sig line....