I am not a scientist, and apparently the Republicans are not scientists either. The trendy new way of declaring disbelief in climate change is to euphemistically say, “I’m not a scientist”, as if this were a sure way to end any further discussion of the nasty topic.
Historically there has always been some ambivalence towards science in the political realm, but never before has a party simply given up on discussing the topic like this, as if they were pubescent kids avoiding a talk about sex with their parents. The reason seems to be clear. No longer can Republicans directly deny climate change in light of all the evidence, and at the same time, there doesn’t seem to be any deep ideological reasons for them to be so hostile towards it, other than keeping the Koch brothers happy (maybe I underestimate this reason). Many scientific topics have given rise to anti-science mentalities in the past, mostly sprouting from deeply held ideological beliefs like religion or political philosophy, but only with this issue of climate change does it seem to grow out of a pure anti-science mentality.
One of the most forthright anti-science attitudes has been the response to the theory of evolution, since Darwin first published “On The Origin of Species” in 1859. To this day, much of the religious right still denies evolution as a scientific fact, claiming it to be just a “theory”. A 2013 Pew poll revealed that only 43% of republicans believe humans have evolved over time, down from 54% in 2009. Thats right, the republicans have managed to regress in the past five years! Whats even more depressing is that only 67% of democrats agree that humans have evolved over time. Which reveals that (willful) scientific ignorance is not a completely partisan matter. The poll also indicates, unsurprisingly, that only 31% of republicans and 52% of democrats who attend weekly services believe that humans evolved.
Obviously a religious belief increases the likeliness of one being hostile towards evolution, which contradicts that “made in the image of God” idea and other biblical claims. Today, the pseudoscientific theory of intelligent design, based on no scientific evidence, has become an increasingly popular reactionary movement for religious right wingers. It is a clear reaction to a “dangerous idea” that threatens their religious beliefs. Unfortunately this issue is still very much alive and manages to pop up around the country, where nutty bible thumpers attempt to teach creationism in high schools. In fact, a recent Slate article reported that Texas charter schools are teaching creationism and saying that evolution is “dogma” and an “unproved theory.” Something only a dogmatist would say. In this light, their anti-science mentality becomes quite understandable. Ignorant and archaic, but grounded in a deeply held faith.
While the anti-science mentality is appropriately associated with the right wing, the left has not been completely free from anti-science behavior. The idea of “human nature” has always sparked debate within left wing circles. And it is understandable. Certain disturbing ideologies of the twentieth century have exploited scientific theories for selfish gains, such as social darwinism, which grew out of the nineteenth century to proclaim laissez-faire capitalism as the natural and right way of running a society. Later movements like Nazism abused scientific theories to help justify their racist and wholly unscientific genocide.
When E.O. Wilson published his book, “Sociobiology” in 1975, it was met with immediate controversy from the left. Sociobiology puts forth the notion that certain social behaviors are inherited and formed out of natural selection, an idea that has since gained much scientific consensus. But when it was first released, E.O Wilson (who is a lifelong liberal Democrat, according to Steven Pinker) was declared the “Right-Wing Prophet of Patriarchy” by protesters. At an American Association for the Advancement of Science event in 1978, where he was scheduled to speak, a group of people chanting “Racist Wilson, you can’t hide, we charge you with genocide” interrupted the event as one protester poured a pitcher of water on Wilson.
The assumption that this theory was nothing but racist apologia created an angry reaction to a scientific theory that seemed to be politically incorrect. But science is not always “politically correct”, nor should we expect it to be. It is based on experiments and reality, not dogma or ideology or morality. And it should never be used to justify or denounce a moral belief, which is what the left wing feared sociobiology might do. An understandable fear based on historical observation, but a very misguided reaction. Scientists should not have to fear persecution for finding ugly truths, regardless of whether it sits well with someones philosophical outlook.
So, both the left and right have had their moments of anti-science temperament. But recently, it seems as though republicans have made this attitude an ingrained part of their ideology. What exactly is the reason for climate change denial? Is there some kind of theological or ideological basis, as we have seen before? (If there is please let me know). Or is this simply a part of their modern temperament? Have they just decided to become the anti-science party for the hell of it? At least we can understand their hostility to something like stem cell research, which they fight on a religious/moral basis. But climate change?
The only possible reason I can see is for them wanting to please the giant oil corporations and the Koch brothers. OK, so maybe thats an essential reason, but still, it used to take legitimate ideological anger to become anti-scientific. Now all it takes is a campaign donation and half the congress will denounce Einstein as a charlatan. Well, values change, I suppose.
Lets hope that the republican party either evolves into a moderately scientific party soon, or quickly walks into extinction.
