tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12478084.post6557263370063314343..comments2024-01-17T02:39:06.048-05:00Comments on rude truth: commenting on the weatherJJThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14920416765778868736noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12478084.post-62827799720751046562007-04-25T19:03:00.000-05:002007-04-25T19:03:00.000-05:00Hi Jeff,Thanks for the visit. It's always nice to...Hi Jeff,<BR/><BR/>Thanks for the visit. It's always nice to get the occasional affirmation that readers really do exist.<BR/><BR/>I'm not sure that it really matters what the ultimate or proximate causes are, other than the pragmatic matter of determining what the most appropriate responses are. Even if it turns out that what we're in is some kind of "natural" climatic cycle, it remains observably true that something different is happening--for instance, some species are losing their habitats (polar bears, penguins), and that specific changes in bodies of water are occurring. If we take it that it is a morally responsible thing to do to preserve our species and therefore by extension other species--or heck, not even morally responsible but simply prudential--then it doesn't take assigning a human cause to the matter to make it imperative for us to take action. Determining causes is a pragmatic step in helping to determine what we ought to be doing. And while, given my epistemological views, I don't think that a certain amount of healthy skepticism is out of bounds on <I>anything</I>, I also find that the issue of making sound judgments between competing claims is a difficult matter when one is a layperson with regard to areas as complicated as these. I understand that politicians use issues like global warming and abortion and gay marriage and poverty and national security as a means toward creating power ($$$) for themselves. And I also understand that scientific studies must be funded, and that this issue complicates any conception of science as "pure" and objective. However, it doesn't seem to me that global warming is a real moneymaker of an issue right now. Abortion, gay marriage, national security: those are the issues being wielded by those in power at the moment. Global warming's not cool. And so it seems to me that I'm not necessarily being so unbearably naive to take as trustworthy the testimony of people still bothering to make the claim that there's a problem. What's in it for them? Who's even listening? And sure, Al Gore's made some mileage out of it. But who is he? Is he making any effective decisions nowadays? Is he in charge? Nope.<BR/><BR/>I guess what I'm assuming, and you're not, is that the real major players making the claims are scientists doing their best to make sense of the data they're getting, in good conscience--rather than politicians, whose interest in data is always spin. I would call this a sort of virtuous epistemic humility rather than a willful naivete.JTBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05977180734561873789noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12478084.post-32498805768877635382007-04-25T13:13:00.000-05:002007-04-25T13:13:00.000-05:00Followed Scott's link to your site. I like it. I...Followed Scott's link to your site. I like it. I'll be back!<BR/><BR/>Perhaps the global warming issue isn't as open and shut a case as you may think. See http://www.heartland.org/archives/studies/ieguide.htm#1<BR/><BR/>I am undecided on the issue, but that article presents some info that tells me that characterization of doubters as "chicken ostriches" is unfair. There are legit reasons to believe that global warming is caused by humans. But there are also legit reasons to DOUBT it.<BR/><BR/>Lets not base our conclusions on what the popular media feeds us. All of the major players in the debate have $$incentives$$ to promoting their version. We have to weed through all of that.Jeffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04936345958119798013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12478084.post-86037882067622324692007-04-25T09:54:00.000-05:002007-04-25T09:54:00.000-05:00Outstanding. A little screed every now and then is...Outstanding. A little screed every now and then is a good thing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12478084.post-81080957930437308402007-04-25T09:29:00.000-05:002007-04-25T09:29:00.000-05:00Also the fact that a week ago on Monday PTS classe...Also the fact that a week ago on Monday PTS classes were cancelled due to flooding may have contributed to my watery nightmare.JTBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05977180734561873789noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12478084.post-1758268613824703122007-04-25T09:00:00.000-05:002007-04-25T09:00:00.000-05:00spoken like a true editor.spoken like a true editor.JTBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05977180734561873789noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12478084.post-52223615581598779482007-04-24T21:19:00.000-05:002007-04-24T21:19:00.000-05:00agreed on the last paragraph, but do save the idea...agreed on the last paragraph, but do save the idea for after you read Chris Adrian's <A HREF="http://www.amazon.com/Childrens-Hospital-Chris-Adrian/dp/1932416609/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-2376045-4288823?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1177467361&sr=8-1" REL="nofollow"><EM>The Children's Hospital</EM></A>, which, though I haven't read it (yet), sounds like the right apocalyptic novel to write about in concert.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com