The War on Science: Who’s Waging It, Why It Matters, What We Can Do about It

The War on Science: Who’s Waging It, Why It Matters, What We Can Do about It by Shawn Otto

Synopsis: “Wherever the people are well informed,” Thomas Jefferson wrote, “they can be trusted with their own government.” But what happens when they are not? In every issue of modern society–from climate change to vaccinations, transportation to technology, health care to defense–we are in the midst of an unprecedented expansion of scientific progress and a simultaneous expansion of danger. At the very time we need them most, scientists and the idea of objective knowledge are being bombarded by a vast, well-funded, three-part war on science: the identity politics war on science, the ideological war on science, and the industrial war on science.

The result is an unprecedented erosion of thought in Western democracies as voters, policymakers, and justices actively ignore the evidence from science, leaving major policy decisions to be based more on the demands of the most strident voices.

Shawn Lawrence Otto’s provocative new book investigates the historical, social, philosophical, political, and emotional reasons for why and how evidence-based politics are in decline and authoritarian politics are once again on the rise, and offers a vision, an argument, and some compelling solutions to bring us to our collective senses, before it’s too late.

Published: May 2016 | ISBN-13: 978-1571313539

Author’s Homepage: http://www.shawnotto.com
Author’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/shawnotto

Scientific American Book Review
The Guardian Book Review
Environmental Health News Book Review
Forward Reviews Book Review