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Robert Oppenheimer">J. Robert Oppenheimer</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/An_Inconvenient_Truth" title="An Inconvenient Truth">An Inconvenient Truth</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Golden_Rice" title="Golden Rice">Golden Rice</a></li></ul> <div class="vte plainlinks" style="font-size:smaller; text-align:center;"><a href="/wiki/Template:Sciencenav" title="Template:Sciencenav">v</a> - <a href="/wiki/Template_talk:Sciencenav" title="Template talk:Sciencenav">t</a> - <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://rationalwiki.org/w/index.php?title=Template:Sciencenav&action=edit">e</a></div> </td></tr></tbody></table> <table style="margin: auto; border-collapse:collapse; border-style:none; background-color:transparent;" class="cquote"> <tbody><tr> <td><div style="padding:4px 50px;position:relative;"><span style="position:absolute;left:10px;top:-6px;z-index:1;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-weight:bold;color:#B2B7F2;font-size:36px">“</span><span style="position:absolute;right:10px;bottom:-20px;z-index:1;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-weight:bold;color:#B2B7F2;font-size:36px">”</span>Extreme political or religious conflicts resolve by war. Extreme scientific conflicts resolve by a search for better data.</div> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="padding:4px 10px 8px;font-size:smaller;line-height:1.6em;text-align:right;"><cite style="font-style:normal;position:relative;z-index:2">—<a href="/wiki/Neil_deGrasse_Tyson" title="Neil deGrasse Tyson">Neil deGrasse Tyson</a></cite> </td></tr></tbody></table> <p><b>Scientific consensus</b> is what most <a href="/wiki/Scientist" class="mw-redirect" title="Scientist">scientists</a> in a particular field of study agree is true on a given question, when disagreement on the question is limited and insignificant. </p><p>The consensus may or may not turn out to be confirmed by further research. When it is confirmed, a <a href="/wiki/Hypothesis" title="Hypothesis">hypothesis</a> becomes known as a (lower-case) theory, or, given enough <a href="/wiki/Time" title="Time">time</a> and <a href="/wiki/Evidence" title="Evidence">evidence</a>, an (upper case) <a href="/wiki/Scientific_theory" title="Scientific theory">Theory</a>, such as <a href="/wiki/Einstein" class="mw-redirect" title="Einstein">Einstein</a>'s <a href="/wiki/Theory_of_Relativity" class="mw-redirect" title="Theory of Relativity">Theory of Relativity</a>. Numerous times in the history of science, one theory has been superseded by another as anomalies or counter-examples accrued over time and the scientific community has discarded an older theory in favor of a new theory which accounted for more of the data in a more satisfactory way. This often occurs as the result of improvements in the accuracy of the instruments used to observe, record, and measure phenomena. </p> <div id="toc" class="toc" role="navigation" aria-labelledby="mw-toc-heading"><input type="checkbox" role="button" id="toctogglecheckbox" class="toctogglecheckbox" style="display:none" /><div class="toctitle" lang="en" dir="ltr"><h2 id="mw-toc-heading">Contents</h2><span class="toctogglespan"><label class="toctogglelabel" for="toctogglecheckbox"></label></span></div> <ul> <li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-1"><a href="#Misunderstanding"><span class="tocnumber">1</span> <span class="toctext">Misunderstanding</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-2"><a href="#See_also"><span class="tocnumber">2</span> <span class="toctext">See also</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-3"><a href="#External_links"><span class="tocnumber">3</span> <span class="toctext">External links</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-4"><a href="#References"><span class="tocnumber">4</span> <span class="toctext">References</span></a></li> </ul> </div> <h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Misunderstanding">Misunderstanding</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Scientific_consensus&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section: Misunderstanding">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h2> <div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width:167px;"><a href="/wiki/File:The_Structure_of_Scientific_Revolutions_2nd_edition_Thomas_Kuhn.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/The_Structure_of_Scientific_Revolutions_2nd_edition_Thomas_Kuhn.jpg/165px-The_Structure_of_Scientific_Revolutions_2nd_edition_Thomas_Kuhn.jpg" decoding="async" width="165" height="220" class="thumbimage" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/The_Structure_of_Scientific_Revolutions_2nd_edition_Thomas_Kuhn.jpg/248px-The_Structure_of_Scientific_Revolutions_2nd_edition_Thomas_Kuhn.jpg 1.5x, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/The_Structure_of_Scientific_Revolutions_2nd_edition_Thomas_Kuhn.jpg/330px-The_Structure_of_Scientific_Revolutions_2nd_edition_Thomas_Kuhn.jpg 2x" data-file-width="867" data-file-height="1156" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a href="/wiki/File:The_Structure_of_Scientific_Revolutions_2nd_edition_Thomas_Kuhn.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div>The Structure of Scientific Revolutions 2nd edition Thomas Kuhn</div></div></div> <p>Advocates of <a href="/wiki/Pseudoscience" title="Pseudoscience">pseudosciences</a> tend to see scientific consensus as just an <a href="/wiki/Argument_from_authority" title="Argument from authority">argument from authority</a> (or even a <a href="/wiki/Conspiracy" class="mw-redirect" title="Conspiracy">conspiracy</a>).<sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-1">[1]</a></sup> Some even assume the existence of a mysteriously ill-defined "scientific establishment" enforcing received scientific orthodoxy by diktat.<sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-2">[2]</a></sup> The twisting of "<a href="/wiki/Science_was_wrong_before" title="Science was wrong before">science was wrong before</a>" (<a href="/wiki/Pseudoskepticism" title="Pseudoskepticism">pseudoskeptics</a> may intone), and then what about the <a href="/wiki/Galileo_gambit" title="Galileo gambit">Galileo gambit</a>? Furthermore, since the notion of <a href="/wiki/Falsifiability" title="Falsifiability">falsifiability</a> exists (no theory can ever be <a href="/wiki/Uncertainty_tactic" title="Uncertainty tactic"><i>fully</i></a> certain or religiously dogmatic), we should then <a href="/wiki/False_dichotomy" class="mw-redirect" title="False dichotomy">ignore the mountains of literature already available</a>. Or the opponents of "the" consensus simply <a href="/wiki/Willful_ignorance" title="Willful ignorance">equate</a> <i>falsifiability</i> with "false". </p><p>Portraying scientific consensus as a form of majoritarian rule is hilarious for two reasons: </p> <ol><li>The scientific community has the inherent role of keeping a <i>check</i> on <a href="/wiki/Argumentum_ad_populum" title="Argumentum ad populum">popularly-held</a> (either "right" or "wrong") opinions.<sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-3">[3]</a></sup></li> <li>If a new idea proves its case <i>despite</i> mainstream <a href="/wiki/Academic" class="mw-redirect" title="Academic">academic</a> thought at the time, it will eventually <i>become</i> the new consensus.<sup id="cite_ref-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-4">[4]</a></sup> (For a while, at least.)</li></ol> <h2><span class="mw-headline" id="See_also">See also</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Scientific_consensus&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section: See also">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h2> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Essay:Scientific_consensus" title="Essay:Scientific consensus">Essay:Scientific consensus</a> for a more thorough examination of this topic</li></ul> <h2><span class="mw-headline" id="External_links">External links</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Scientific_consensus&action=edit&section=3" title="Edit section: External links">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h2> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Steven_Novella" title="Steven Novella">Steven Novella</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://theness.com/neurologicablog/?p=388">explores the issue of scientific consensus.</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/thinking-global-change/201211/the-pivotal-role-perceived-scientific-consensus">The pivotal role of perceived scientific consensus in acceptance of science</a>, <i>Psychology Today</i></li></ul> <h2><span class="mw-headline" id="References">References</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Scientific_consensus&action=edit&section=4" title="Edit section: References">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h2> <div class="references-small" style="font-size:90%;"> <div class="mw-references-wrap"><ol class="references"> <li id="cite_note-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-1">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://respectfulinsolence.com/2010/03/24/hostility-towards-a-scientific-consensus/">Hostility towards scientific consensus: A sign of a crank</a>, <a href="/wiki/Respectful_Insolence" title="Respectful Insolence">Respectful Insolence</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-2"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-2">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"> Compare: <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r2708880">/* Errors processing stylesheet [[:Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css]] (rev 2708880): • Invalid or unsupported value for property ⧼code⧽background⧼/code⧽ at line 44 character 14. • Invalid or unsupported value for property ⧼code⧽background⧼/code⧽ at line 50 character 14. • Invalid or unsupported value for property ⧼code⧽background⧼/code⧽ at line 55 character 14. • Invalid or unsupported value for property ⧼code⧽background⧼/code⧽ at line 64 character 14. • Invalid or unsupported value for property ⧼code⧽color⧼/code⧽ at line 96 character 9. • Invalid or unsupported value for property ⧼code⧽color⧼/code⧽ at line 100 character 9. • Invalid media query at line 138 character 8. */ .mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free.id-lock-free a{}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited.id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration.id-lock-registration a{}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription.id-lock-subscription a{}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{}body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background-size:contain;padding:0 1em 0 0}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#085;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}</style><cite id="CITEREFSisson2010" class="citation book cs1">Sisson, Edward (2010). "14: Debunking the Scopes 'Monkey Trial' Stereotype". In <a href="/wiki/William_A._Dembski" class="mw-redirect" title="William A. Dembski">Dembski, William A.</a>; Licona, Michael R. (eds.). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=SuRNZJ6M11MC"><i>Evidence for God: 50 Arguments for Faith from the Bible, History, Philosophy, and Science</i></a>. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Books. p. 79. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781441211798" title="Special:BookSources/9781441211798"><bdi>9781441211798</bdi></a><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2017-06-03</span></span>. <q>Of course, the scientific establishment of today would denounce all of this.</q></cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=bookitem&rft.atitle=14%3A+Debunking+the+Scopes+%27Monkey+Trial%27+Stereotype&rft.btitle=Evidence+for+God%3A+50+Arguments+for+Faith+from+the+Bible%2C+History%2C+Philosophy%2C+and+Science&rft.place=Grand+Rapids%2C+Michigan&rft.pages=79&rft.pub=Baker+Books&rft.date=2010&rft.isbn=9781441211798&rft.aulast=Sisson&rft.aufirst=Edward&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DSuRNZJ6M11MC&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Frationalwiki.org%3AScientific+consensus" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-3"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-3">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text">Scheufele, Dietram. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.pnas.org/content/110/Supplement_3/14040.full">"Communicating science in social settings."</a> <i>PNAS</i> 110(3), 2013.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-4"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-4">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text">Compare <a href="/wiki/Thomas_Kuhn" title="Thomas Kuhn">Thomas Kuhn</a>.</span> </li> </ol></div></div>    </div></div><div class="printfooter">Retrieved from "<a dir="ltr" href="https://rationalwiki.org/w/index.php?title=Scientific_consensus&oldid=2494714">https://rationalwiki.org/w/index.php?title=Scientific_consensus&oldid=2494714</a>"</div> <div id="catlinks" class="catlinks" data-mw="interface"><div id="mw-normal-catlinks" class="mw-normal-catlinks"><a href="/wiki/Special:Categories" title="Special:Categories">Category</a>: <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Science" title="Category:Science">Science</a></li></ul></div><div id="mw-hidden-catlinks" class="mw-hidden-catlinks mw-hidden-cats-hidden">Hidden category: <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Pages_using_DynamicPageList_parser_function" title="Category:Pages using 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