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Originally posted by geochem
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Originally posted by Wao nahele kane
In-fact - faith is not part of my life. Be it in religion or science because in the end, it's merely a faith based on what some blow hard tells you is factual from his or her LIMITED perspective of which may or may not be completely thought through and more likely not completely thought through. Blind faith is for fools IMO and I don't give a crap what label you put on the faith.
In fact, Not. Science is based on independently replicable evidence whereas religion is based on a belief in the absence of evidence... Not unlike the distinction between those of us who accept the scientific evidence produced by thousands of studies that show GMO poses minimal risk as opposed to the anti-GMO mob who (want to) believe GMO products are dangerous in the absence of any credible evidence that they are.
Although you claim not to be religious, you clearly are - of the tech paranoia sect, methinks.
Looks like this needs to be dissected for you to realize what I meant. Though you may "believe" science is not fallible because of what you've cited with regard to replicated experimentation and the independent peer review process. There are two particular readily apparent things you've not cited that do indeed occur in science that invalidate your infallible theory of science and it's wayward notion of separation between common dogmas and reality.
There are those who "believe" that science is infallible and always on cue. Being the pragmatic individual I am, let's examine that "belief" on a couple points.
Experiments are first and foremost no more informative than their constructs allow them to be. Limited experiment produce limited results and so on. Results are naturally independent to themselves dictated by the ultimate boundaries of physics and the said experimental conditions.
Results fall prey to human interpretation and interpretation is of the individuals expression and perspective application.
A basic example is the word "safe". How one utilizes the word safe can be applied from differing perspectives. Applied through any given perspective a result may be interpreted as safe and through another perspective it may be considered unsafe. Each observing the same results through confirmed replication yet exacting similar results derive different conclusions.
Case in point: Seralini's replication of the Monsanto experiment. Each produced the same results. Because Seralinis interpretations of the results differed from Monsanto's, it created an uproar in the scientific community based on "beliefs"/personal opinions. Science was tossed out the window and Seralini ostracized but then later vindicated in a court of law and where later slander suites where in favor of Seralini. It's important to note that Seralini's replication was only possible because of a judiciary order to reveal the Monsanto experiment. In the United States such experimental information and product is not available for independent replication, nor independent peer review. Seralini concluded further testing was necessary for the product. Simple.
There were citations that Seralini used the wrong rats for cancer testing. Bottom line, he used the same rats that Monsanto used as it was an independent replication of the Monsanto experiment. All arguments were based on the assumption that it was Seralini's experiment, it wasn't his experiment, it was Monsanto's experiment replicated by Seralini.
So science brings us opinions everyday that are indeed not agreed upon and the fighting that is created is as bad as that seen during the inquisition. We see the same thing occurring around the climate topic. Piss poor science is the name of the game these days, seize the dollar and squash those who disagree. Stop fooling yourself otherwise.