Rats in the walls...

Postmodernists in the house of science:

A new concept of science was introduced by Funtowicz and Ravetz during the 1990s…  The concept of post-normal science goes beyond the traditional assumptions that science is both certain and value-free…  The exercise of scholarly activities is defined by the dominance of goal orientation where scientific goals are controlled by political or societal actors… Scientists’ integrity lies not in disinterestedness but in their behaviour as stakeholders...  The guiding principle of normal science – the goal of achievement of factual knowledge - must be modified to fit the post-normal principle…  For this purpose, post-normal scientists should be capable of establishing extended peer communities and allow for ‘extended facts’ from non-scientific experts…  In post-normal science, the maintenance and enhancement of quality, rather than the establishment of factual knowledge, is the key task of scientists…  Involved social actors must agree on the definition of perceptions, narratives, interpretation of models, data and indicators…scientists have to contribute to society by learning as quickly as possible about different perceptions…instead of seeking deep ultimate knowledge. - Eva Kunseler, Towards a new paradigm of Science in scientific policy advising

“Scientist for Truth” dug through the intellectual underpinnings of the Warmingists, and found the same leftist corruption so common elsewhere in the academy.  Written before Climategate broke; read the whole thing.


(HT:  Katabasis, in a comment at The Devil’s Kitchen.)

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