Re: [Phys-L] proof that humans have not evolved

[John Denker <jsd@av8n.com>]

On 06/27/2012 08:53 PM, Ze'ev Wurman wrote:
> And let's remember that believing in Nessie is no different in
> believing in the big bang or in evolution (or AGW :-) for *most*
> people. For them, the belief is based on trusting authority and dogma
> rather than on anything they can convincingly prove or disprove to
> themselves. This lack of scientific and mathematical knowledge has
> little impact on their behavior, or on their ability to function.

I disagree.

Let's include another example:  Smoking tobacco.

The only reason there is significant controversy about climate change
is the same reason that there was for many years huge controversy about 
the health effects of tobacco:  Vested interests paid to spread lies 
about the scientific data.  Not only are they using the same methods;
in some cases they are using the exact same liars, e.g. the Heartland 
Institute.

There is overwhelming evidence that credulous ignorance *does* affect
people's lives.  Smoking, for example, is addictive, expensive, and bad
for your health.

I draw an important distinction between error and lying.  Some of 
the people who are using Nessie as an argument against evolution are 
ignorant and foolish ... but others are not.  They're just lying.
That's what offends me most about the Nessie story, the idea of
teaching children that it is OK to lie, cheat, and steal in order
to promote partisan policies and religious dogma.

Here's another way in which insufficient reasoning ability affects 
people's behavior, and their "ability to function":  It leaves them 
at the mercy of every mountebank and quack.  To see exactly what I 
mean, stroll down the aisles of any pharmacy chain-store and look at 
all the products that cannot possibly work as advertised:  Magnetic 
therapy and/or copper bracelet therapy for arthritis, et cetera.
Americans spend several billion dollars per year on homeopathic 
medicines.  Don't tell me this has no effect.  It has a direct effect 
on the economy ... not to mention morbidity and mortality.

Last but not least, lack of reasoning and insufficient skepticism allows
people to be tricked into *voting* against their own interests.  For
example, they vote for selfish liars who then deregulate the banking 
industry, leading to near-collapse of the global economy.  Don't tell 
that when people lose their jobs and lose their homes, it "has little 
impact on their behavior, or on their ability to function."