Pop Science

I just saw a special on the Discovery Channel where the subject was global warming. Yet this one wasn't warning us of impending doom. Somewhat surprisingly to me, it was taking the stance that perhaps the whole idea of worldwide environmental catastrophe maybe isn't all that certain.

So much for the doomsayers. The show went about its business by pointing out that, despite the trends we have seen which may indicate a general and steady warming, we really haven't observed enough to make anything more than guesses, and not particularly educated ones at that. You see, explained one scientist, science is ultimately based on observation over time, and we simply haven't been able to observe all time.

But perhaps the truly important point was the concession that much of the hysteria about global warming has been produced by what can be called pop science: science based on little useful data yet proclaimed as hard fact. It is science for the instant gratification crowd, the folks who want everything now. Including tragedy.

Shocking. Still, I think many of us have suspected as much all along. When society grows shallow, so too will every aspect of civilization. Our intellect will atrophy, and we will lose ourselves to the popular will.