Human Stupidity: Irrationality, Self Deception

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I am an academic and although I’m not in the USA, it’s situations like this that gives me grave concern for academic freedom. For those that might not be aware, academics are supposed to have freedom to research, publish and teach what we like, regardless of popular opinion, political utility, or even taboo. The nature of our work and scientific progress requires that we are free to do this and to advance unpopular opinions/ideas, without fear for our jobs, our freedom or our lives. If politicians get involved in determining what can and can’t be done, the whole system begins to fail.

We should be terrified of events like this. Academics need to band together to demand laws enshrining their ability to research, publish and teach what they like without interference, and to PROHIBIT government interference. Nevertheless, as big governments like the US government tend to do, they find ways around laws – like attaching conditions to research funding which effectively says “you can research what you like, but we’ll only fund research if we agree with it and it fits our agenda” – terrifying.

Daniel.

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It’s censorship under the guise of religion that is really undermining research. The thing is it actually getting worse. Anything that goes against the Koran or Bible (or any other holy book) is often instantly dismissed however much scientific proof there is.