IN his book ‘The Climate Caper’, with a light touch and nicely readable manner, Professor Paltridge shows that the case for action against climate change is not nearly so certain as is presented to politicians and the public. Read more here.
Archives for June 14, 2009
Defining the Sceptics (Part 1)
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“THE improver of natural knowledge absolutely refuses to acknowledge authority, as such. For him, scepticism is the highest of duties; blind faith the one unpardonable sin.”
This quote from Thomas Huxley is a favourite among so called ‘climate sceptics’.
Mr Huxley, a self-taught 18th Century British biologist ruthlessly attacked the established consensus in defence of Charles Darwin’s new theory of evolution by natural selection.
The word sceptic has come to be associated with those who doubt the accepted consensus on anthropogenic global warming. It is generally used by non-sceptics disparagingly to suggest this group would doubt any assertion or apparent fact.
Some sceptics who understand the use of the term in this classic sense insist they are not sceptics, but rather rationalist. The outspoken Australian geologist Bob Carter is a case in point.
Others embrace the label as meaning a person who seeks the truth. This meaning is consistent with Mr Huxley’s writings.
Of course few doubters of the modern consensus on anthropogenic global warming are always true to Thomas Huxley’s ideals, but it is surely a worthy goal – to seek the truth above all else. [Read more…] about Defining the Sceptics (Part 1)
Jennifer Marohasy BSc PhD has worked in industry and government. She is currently researching a novel technique for long-range weather forecasting funded by the B. Macfie Family Foundation.