Understanding Consensus

Historically, the claim of consensus has been the first refuge of scoundrels; it is a way to avoid debate by claiming that the matter is already settled. Whenever you hear the consensus of scientists agrees on something or other, reach for your wallet, because you’re being had.

– Michael Crichton

About Tony Heller

Just having fun
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9 Responses to Understanding Consensus

  1. Bob Greene says:

    Nice find on the Crichton quote.
    Take a vote, I’m sure a number of people agree with it.

  2. Dave N says:

    Reach for your weapon, because they’re about to attempt stealing your livelihood that humans have toiled for, for millennia.

    Sadly, all alarmists are incapable of understanding what argumentum ad populum means; and worse: that it’s a fallacy, and what that means.

    • Gail Combs says:

      Good I hope New England gets plastered again.

      (sorry rah, another trip for you.)

      • Snowleopard says:

        New England usually does get plastered on St Paddy’s day! 🙂

        More seriously, it’s quite warm here today (44 F), but per Joe Bastardi and others, the cold is returning soon, and likely the ski areas will be operating with good conditions well past Easter.

        • Gail Combs says:

          Working in an ALL IRISH Catholic QC department in Boston, I wore orange on St Paddy’s day….

  3. gator69 says:

    It all begins with “con”.

  4. NancyG says:

    Someone recently posted a link to Crichton’s Caltech Lecture on January 17, 2003. Interesting read, thanks to whoever posted it.

    http://www.s8int.com/crichton.html

  5. oeman50 says:

    As I told my son, if anyone mentions a “consensus,” they are talking politics and not science. Consensus is not a part of the scientific method.

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