Les Jones

Quotes > Ian Murray on Science and Politics

"All the recent science wars stem from the mistaken belief that science can drive policy decisions. It can't. It can only inform them. The sooner people realize that science never tells us we must do anything, the easier it will be to depoliticize science and descientize politics. That will be better for meaningful debate in both spheres."
 -- Ian Murray

From a discussion of scientism on The Corner. I used to think that a more scientific perspective would radically transform politics. The problem with that view is - among other things - that politicians frequently have to deal with issues that are both highly emotional and not settled by scientists, and in those situations preliminary, bad science frequently winds up being mis-used.