What we may believe...

“Why are scientists and government not making decisions for the future in a manner more in harmony with the original and natural state of human beings.”

This was a question asked by an audience member to the panel at a conference I recently attended.

There seemed to be a moment of silence, then hesitation. Eventually one of the panel members answered that they believed that science and government were doing the best job that they could with the information at hand – and the conference moved on.

However, during a later break it seemed that the person who had raised this question was not satisfied with the answer they received. Being nosy, I overheard the entire conversation and couldn’t help but notice that when asked to define what an ‘original and natural state’ was for human beings, that there was no clear answer. It was referred to as ‘the way in which people lived in the past’, or ‘that which is common to all people’. Soon, it became clear that what was being discussed was either ‘opinion’ or ‘belief’ – but sadly without any validation.

Perhaps I’m being harsh. Or perhaps individuals who hold opinions such as these are rare. To be very clear, it’s not the specific belief which is objectionable, but rather, the insistence that it be addressed as genuine without any effort towards justification.

On another occasion, I recall an attempt to explain a point of view during a heated radio debate with a live studio audience. A participant firmly on one side of the argument exclaimed loudly ‘For those who agree with me, no explanation is necessary – and to those who don’t, no explanation is possible.’ Supporters of the speaker cheered and applauded in wild triumph. I listened in stunned silence. Here we had heard that holding a belief was simply a matter of doing so - that it was beyond explanation - and that those who did not share the belief simply could not be communicated with. A vast gulf had opened.

The process of scientific thought is sometimes not very comforting to people. A thorough examination of a subject can lead to uncomfortable facts being revealed – and perhaps even a belief or opinion, long and tightly held, is shaken.

Do scientists always react well when their beliefs are challenged? Read on to learn more....