"Fool Me Twice" is the title of a new book on science and politics by Shawn Lawrence Otto. Subtitled "Fighting the Assault on Science in America", it addresses a topic which is often presented as a kind of problem to be solved to gain scientific credibility but is rarely considered as closely as it needs to be.  Otto begins by discussing some common incidences in politics and initially appears that perhaps an element of political bias is present in these arguments.

However, after a brief discussion of politics he introduces a different view of the political landscape that extends beyond simply progressive and conservative labels, by connecting them to the more fundamental philosophical views of authoritarian and antiauthoritarian perspectives.


Rather than attacking any particular political view, the author pursues a path of demonstrating how science is perpetually in a struggle between those that favor knowledge (i.e. the antiauthoritarian position) versus those that prefer dogma (i.e. authoritarian).  In the process a richer more interesting perspective of the science/politics debate emerges.

The book follows the discussion through five parts by describing the basic problem and then examining it from the perspective of scientific politics in the past, present, and future.  He concludes by offering a general discussion about how we might be able to put aside the growing discontent.

An excerpt illustrates some of the general tone in a statement from Michele Bachmann regarding the teaching of evolution.

But some professors at religious colleges, Bachmann said, teach that "the Earth was created by an intelligent being - God, if you will - and that there are scripture passages that say that a day is as a thousand years and a thousand years is a day, and that therefore, over time, God could have created all this."  Sure. Why not? But it's got nothing to do with knowledge, which flows, as Locke demonstrated, from observation.  The rest "with what assurance soever embraced, is but faith, or opinion, but not knowledge, at least in all general truths."

Let's not be mistaken.  This sort of speculation is altogether human and entirely appropriate.  But it's not science.  Science, by its very foundation on Bacon and Locke and empiricism, limits itself to probabilistic conclusions that explain observations made of the physical world.  Science makes no statements about the ultimate reality outside of these limitations, and teaching that it can is a corruption of the clarity of thought that is required of anyone who wants to excel ..."
p. 168. from Fool Me Twice

While there may be those that disagree with the general viewpoints that surround evolution, it is hard to argue with the author's assessment and his insistence of preserving the integrity of science rather than popular opinions.  He has no difficulty in calling out authoritarian progressives as readily as he addresses authoritarian conservatives.  Anti-science sentiments are considered politically authoritarian regardless of whatever other political persuasion one may support.

He ends in revisiting an idea mentioned by de Tocqueville which should give us all pause.

"This was the great danger of democracy that French political scholar Alexis de Tocqueville most feared for America when he warned that we might one day come to value utility and the authority of tradition over mediation and the antiauthoritarian newness of creativity.  He cautioned against losing the ability to think for ourselves, ..."
P. 315 from Fool Me Twice

While the book is clearly focused on the problem of politics and science in America, it raises enough questions to provide a broader consideration (and understanding) for those having to contend with these issues outside of America.  All in all, it was an excellent read and I would encourage anyone interested in examining the scientific/political problems in the U.S. today to consider this book as a good starting point for such a dialogue.

Fool Me Twice: Fighting the Assault on Science in America by Shawn Lawrence Otto