Anti-Scientific Currents in American Thought

Abstract

Multifarious forces have surrounded science and continue their—sometimes separate, sometimes coordinated—attempts to supplant a scientific approach to an explanation of important questions about us and the world we inhabit. We focus here on questions pertaining to biology and medicine, but no aspect of the scientific enterprise is immune from attack; and not all of the forces aligned against it are represented. The ones considered are: religion, neoliberalism, postmodernism, the “back-to-nature” movement, bioethical obstructionism, and the current POTUS, Donald Trump. We sit in amazement that at the amount of vitriol that has been leveled at science, but try to maintain civility in response. We would be irenic, not polemic; promoting true dialogue between respected scholars holding somewhat differing views. This is not as difficult as some would have you believe.