Tom Desrosier
Much of what we believe about ourselves, our world and our politics, we learned from someone else.
Sometimes, years later, we still cling to this stufff, long after its proven wrong.
Go figure...
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Science and the art of Global Warming
Picture from www.nothernsun.com
Guess what…
Steve Hawking does not believe there are advanced civilizations throughout the galaxy; nor does he believe we are being visited by extra-terrestrials.
Damn…
Indeed, Steve proclaims that people who report sightings, visitations and so on, are perhaps demented or mentally ill. This is based on Steve’s belief that we would have amassed irrefutable evidence by now - radio signals from their home planets, clear pictures or video of their spaceships, perhaps even DNA evidence. To say nothing about guided tours offered during special visits. Yes, how could human science be so ineffective in detecting alien life if there actually were such a thing!
And so in Steve’s opinion - there can’t be any!
Here’s the video link to Steve’s lecture on Ted Talks. Steve discusses humanity’s big questions, including the existence of alien life.
I’m a big fan of Steve by the way. He is absolutely brilliant… I’ve read his book, “A Brief History of Time”, and his perceptions about physics and the Universe are crystal clear, well thought-out and superbly crafted.
Anyway.
I happen to disagree with Steve’s rationale about Space Aliens for no other reason than I perhaps watched too many Star Trek reruns in my youth. Steve, on the other hand, came to his conclusions by aggressively deploying the two quintessential dogmas of science - Scientific Method, which insists, “if you can’t prove it, it doesn’t exist”, and the other, Occam’s Razor, which proffers, “the most simple solution is best.”
Here’s a refresher course on Scientific Method:
Graphic from: http://www.eas.slu.edu
And here’s Occam’s Razor for folks in a hurry:
Graphic from: http://www.savagechickens.com
There you have it - science’s definitive answer on alien life: “Prove it! And all those who are witnesses ? You’re nuts.”
Nuts - its really the simplest explanation. Your just pain nuts, nuts, nuts.
Nuts.
Ahh, but what’s most telling here is not Steve’s authoritative proclamation on alien life; nor his easy dismissal of eye-witness accounts to the contrary, but his disdain and intolerance for accepting as true, an unvetted, or at best, only partially vetted hypothesis. Honest. I have no idea whether space aliens are visiting us; or if the Loch Ness Monster lurks quietly in deep, murky waters in Scotland; I don’t know if sitting in a crystal pyramid atop Mount Shasta will make me leave my body and travel in the spirit world; and I certainly don’t know if the Bermuda Triangle is swallowing ships whole…
But I do know, that for good or ill, Science’s reflex is to fervently cling to these two processes: Scientific Method, and Occam’s Razor and attempt to slowly and inexorably eat away at the chaotic and ambiguous world around us, in pursuit of clarity, understanding and truth.
Got it? Science is supposed to be an immovable pillar of facts, proof, and repeatable observations. And against such unrelenting force, ambiguity is slowly dissected, scrutinized; its mystery chipped away.
That’s Science.
Picture from: http://www.uwm.edu
And now comes the most important scientific inquiry of our life time - Global Warming. Has that one made it to your living room television yet? Lets say it three times real fast together: “Global warming, “global warming, global warming”!
Now let’s pretend we’re parrots, and say it again: “Ark, Global Warming, ark!”
But this time, scientific rigor, which abhors ambiguity and mystery, has been steered into the fast lane by none other than that lovable Nobel Prize Winner, Al Gore. Here’s a video by Al Gore, the Father of Global Warming. Its on TED Talks (I like this site by the way).
Gore makes three key points in this short video:
- Global temperatures are rising at an alarming rate due in part to humanity’s production of CO2,
- Consequently, the Polar Ice cap is melting, jeopardizing climates world-wide,
-
And aggravating all this, huge swaths of CO2 gobbling rain forest are being chopped down everyday to make room for humanity’s sprawl.
Bleak is the word that comes to mind.
Bleak.
No, not because our planet seems utterly doomed, but because the same scientific rigor that denounces space aliens in sallies of laughter and guffaw, has embraced global warming with seemingly far less scrutiny. Indeed, we seem to have skipped most of the part where we attempt to prove the hypothesis that humanity is the culprit, and instead have bounded right into the conclusion and money-making solution phase, where we are bombarded with every notion of tree planting, fluorescent light bulbs, and other “green” things to do.
And as for Hawking’s unwavering adherence to Scientific Method and Occam’s Razor? Alas, scientists quietly contend that funding, employment, indeed the warm coziness of academia is extended only to those who passionately embrace Al Gore’s world view of a scalding planet soon to be ravished by famine, war and flooded coastline cities. Alas, Science, with its otherwise unwavering discipline and deft scientific rigor seems unwilling or incapable of bringing us to cusp, in this, the greatest inquiry of our generation. So busy are they, with political correctness, career advancement and *sycophantia.
Bleak.
Like all of you, I wish I knew whether Global Warming was real, and if we are the cause. Is this as grave as they say? Or is it just another ploy to manipulate the mindless masses and market a new generation of guilt-free products.
I wish I knew.
I found this rather interesting graphic on the web - a layman like me.
Graphic from a study by Birgir V. Óskarsson entitled, Ice core evidence for past climates and glaciation
It seems global temperatures are cyclic - at least they’ve been for the 400,000 years that we’ve been able to measure them. And what’s more, we seem to be experiencing one of many temperature spikes right now. In eons past, the planet responded to such temperature spikes by self-correcting, causing temperatures to plummet dramatically. If such is the case, again, (and why wouldn’t it be) I’m glad Al Gore is getting us all to plant trees - we’re going to need lots more fire wood!
Picture from: http://www.brandchannel.com
And the founder of “Green Peace“, Patrick Moore; a man committed to a better, cleaner Earth, an independent, hard thinker, disagrees humanity is causing Global Warming.
Global Warming- small amounts of truth, advanced not by scientific rigor, but by populist fervor. Gone seems the immovable pillar of science, supplanted by pettifoggers, self-serving politics and corporate interests. Oh, for the noble and uncompromising standards of the likes of Steve Hawkings’.
Lo.
Cling, clang, cling clang, a covered wagon rattles across a rutted, prairie trail, driven by an obscure man in dusty black coat and top hat, pulled by an old, tired horse. And brightly colored upon the wagons’ high wooden sides, “Doc Johnson’s Magical Cure All Elixir”. Ahh, some things never change; the same-ole’ drive for the fast buck, and the same ole’ snake oil; but this time, a bold new look! Yes, re-invigorated and repackaged for humanity’s present ailments, and of course this time presented in modern, ergonomic, earth-conscious biodegradable bottles.
And so this plea, this hope: “Science - get it right! Cut through the hype, the drama, dare to disagree with self-serving politicians and career-clinging sycophants, and find humanity the truth!”
Tom
* Pettifogger: A lawyer who uses unethical methods in conducting trumped up cases..
*Sycophantia: Sucking-up risen to a mental disorder. I made the word up; but can you think of a word that wasn’t?
Copyright 2008, Ask permission before re-use
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Bitterness…
Bitterness…
Rob Patterson wrote in his blog yesterday about some of the sociology occurring in America as we approach the elections of 2008. The centerpiece of Rob’s thoughts seemed to be Obama’s now infamous “bitterness” speech. Rob further provided a graphic that in his opinion broke-down how Americans, in their various groups, are approaching our voting decisions based on their level of maturity.
Here’s a link to Rob’s blog:
If you visited his site, perhaps you noticed the rather busy graphic I mentioned above, of what might be a classic ego development chart. Some of the terms are slightly changed, but the essence is still there.
Here’s more on Ego Development: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loevinger’s_stages_of_ego_development
Anyway, as scholarly and well thought of as Rob’s idea might be, I would like to expand upon it here.
Rob - what say you about this picture: I think it truly captures the true and modern sentiment of Americana… Indeed, far better than the graphic you present, it shows the heartland of America changing, overrun, looking for relevance in a tumultuous time. I know. You said some of that too.
Pasted from <http://editorialcartoonists.com/cartoons/SherfJ/2008/SherfJ20080415_low.jpg>>
I think we’re more than that; more than can be explained in Rob depicts. I think America is indeed a confusing social construct; sure, many behave as predictably as Rob’s graphic might suggest; but many more adhere socially and psychologically as Maslow might have professed.
According to Maslow, we act the way we do based on this hierarchy of needs:
Pasted from <http://estadosdeespirito.files.wordpress.com/2007/12/maslow.jpg>
To make a long story short, most people are quite self centered and selfish when they perceive their safety and security is at stake. No motivation to pursue issues of self esteem and meaningfulness when you’re broke, in danger of dying, or otherwise feel threatened by you human condition.
There are exceptions of course - the Army private who dives on a grenade to save his buddies. The mother who dies in defense of her young. And so on.
Exceptions… The so-called greed-filled wall-street bankers who albeit wealthy already, have seemingly brought America to the brink of financial ruin -all because of insatiable greed. Never motivated beyond the need to feel safe and secure.
And less we forget our Presidential hopefuls… Attempting at any cost to identify themselves with many of us - those struggling at the bottom. Obama, in his infamous “bitterness” speech, spoke of how those at the bottom cling to guns, religion, and so on. Perhaps. But not the ones living in refrigerator boxes at the outskirts of town; not the ones sitting across from their banker, loosing their home to the ravages of an unkind housing market. Such as those aren’t reading National Rifle Association magazine, or the Watchtower. They’re reading the help wanted adds.
Look, those at the top of Maslow’s pyramid don’t understand the desperation of those at the bottom. Its foreign to them; its like going to Madagascar or something. No, to be broke is to understand; to be rich is, well, to be rich. And those in between? Well each according to what we perceive.
Thanks Rob - you got me thinking as always.
Tom
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