Open AccessSpecific Turns of Phrase Inspire Natural Skepticism: Comment on “Climate Science in a Postmodern World”
Author(s) -
Richards Jeremy P.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
eos, transactions american geophysical union
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.316
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 2324-9250
pISSN - 0096-3941
DOI - 10.1029/2011eo150005
Subject(s) - skepticism , humanity , rhetoric , postmodernism , environmental ethics , epistemology , natural (archaeology) , phrase , philosophy , sociology , psychology , geography , theology , linguistics , archaeology
Kenneth Verosub's Forum ( Eos, 91 (33), 291, doi:10.1029/2010EO330003, 2010) illustrates rather well how the discussions about climate change have become more about beliefs and rhetoric than anything that might usefully move humanity forward on a more sustainable path. Surprisingly, Verosub repeatedly decries skepticism as though it were some kind of social ill. But I was taught as a scientist to be exactly that: skeptical. Healthy skepticism should be what drives us to test hypotheses and seek better ones.