Scientists, Demagogues, and Lysenkoism, Part III

Far Worse Than the Dark Ages

Science used to be respected as a discipline which, although restricted to empirical reality, could be relied upon to discover truth with a high degree of truthfulness and reliability.  Then, as materialism took hold and the West came to believe that the only reality was brute matter, science necessarily had to expand.  It became an authority literally upon everything, since matter alone existed.

At this point, the integrity of science began to decline rapidly.  Science was made a serving girl to realms and issues way outside its competence or ability.  The inevitable consequences were the rapid rise of junk-science and its capture by powers and authorities to serve their venal ends.  It is rapidly getting to the point where to claim science as an authority on any question is to invite sniggers from not just the back seats, but even in the reserved section. 

Our third example of faux-science comes courtesy of Quadrant Magazine.  Whilst this is a fairly lengthy article, every paragraph is of importance.  It demonstrates that Lysenkoism is rampant in our academies, schools, and laboratories--let alone in our media, Cabinet rooms, and halls of bureaucracy.  Science has become thoroughly politicised.  It risks a rapid loss any final shreds of credibility.  Would the last scientist in the room, please turn out the lights.