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'''Denialism''' is the term used to describe the position of governments, ], business groups, interest groups, or individuals who reject propositions on which a ] exists. Such groups and individuals are said to be engaging in denialism when they seek to influence policy processes and outcomes by using rhetorical tactics to give the appearance of argument or legitimate debate, when in actuality there is none.<ref> Mark Hoofnagle, Chris Hoofnagle. ScienceBlogs.</ref><ref>See, e.g., {{cite journal | quotes = no | last = Stoff | first = Rick | authorlink = Rick Stoff | year = 2007 | month = June | title = 'Denialism' and muddying the waters | journal = ] | volume = 37 | issue = 296 | pages = 21–33, 2p.}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | quotes = no | author = Diethelm, PA and McKee, M | date = 2009 | title = Denialism: what is it and how should scientists respond? | journal = European Journal of Public Health | volume = 19 | issue = 1 | pages = 2–4 | url = http://eurpub.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/extract/19/1/2 | doi = 10.1093/eurpub/ckn139 }}</ref> '''Denialism''' is the term used to describe the position of governments, ], business groups, interest groups, or individuals who reject propositions on which a ] exists. Such groups and individuals are said to be engaging in denialism when they seek to influence policy processes and outcomes by using rhetorical tactics to give the appearance of argument or legitimate debate, when in actuality there is none.<ref>See, e.g., {{cite journal | quotes = no | last = Stoff | first = Rick | authorlink = Rick Stoff | year = 2007 | month = June | title = 'Denialism' and muddying the waters | journal = ] | volume = 37 | issue = 296 | pages = 21–33, 2p.}}{{Request quotation|date=July 2009|that supports this paragraph}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | quotes = no | author = Diethelm, PA and McKee, M | date = 2009 | title = Denialism: what is it and how should scientists respond? | journal = European Journal of Public Health | volume = 19 | issue = 1 | pages = 2–4 | url = http://eurpub.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/extract/19/1/2 | doi = 10.1093/eurpub/ckn139}}{{Request quotation|date=July 2009|that supports this paragraph}}</ref>


The term was first used in the sense of ']', but the usage has broadened to include ']',<ref>{{cite journal | quotes = no| last = Kim | first = Richard | authorlink = Richard Kim | date = 2007-03-02 | title = Harper's Publishes AIDS Denialist | journal = ] | url = http://www.thenation.com/blogs/notion?pid=65330}}</ref><ref name="smu_aids_pseudoscience"> Cotton, John L. and Randall J. Scalise. . Department of Physics The term was first used in the sense of ']',{{Fact|date=July 2009|that supports claim of first usage}} but the usage has broadened to include ']',<ref>{{cite journal | quotes = no| last = Kim | first = Richard | authorlink = Richard Kim | date = 2007-03-02 | title = Harper's Publishes AIDS Denialist | journal = ] | url = http://www.thenation.com/blogs/notion?pid=65330}}</ref><ref name="smu_aids_pseudoscience"> Cotton, John L. and Randall J. Scalise. . Department of Physics
Southern Methodist University.</ref><ref>{{cite journal | quotes = no | last = Sitze | first = Adam | date = 2004 | title = Denialism | journal = South Atlantic Quarterly | volume = 103 | issue = 4 | pages = 769–811 | url = http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/south_atlantic_quarterly/v103/103.4sitze.pdf | doi = 10.1215/00382876-103-4-769 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | quotes = no | last = Watson | first = James | date = 2006 | title = Scientists, activists sue South Africa's AIDS 'denialists' | journal = Nature Medicine | volume = 12 | issue = 1 | pages = 6 | url = http://www.nature.com/nm/journal/v12/n1/pdf/nm0106-6a.pdf | doi = 10.1038/nm0106-6a }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | quotes = no | year = 2006 | title = Editorial: Denying science | journal = Nature Medicine | volume = 12 | issue = 4 | pages = 369 | url = http://www.nature.com/nm/journal/v12/n4/pdf/nm0406-369.pdf | doi = 10.1038/nm0406-369 }}</ref> '],<ref>. By Mark Hoofnagle. . Published February 10, 2009.</ref><ref>. By Jacob Dickerman. '']''. Published March 30, 2009.</ref><ref>{{cite doi|10.1038/459168a}}</ref> ']'<ref name="denial_ind_guardian"> George Monbiot. Guardian Unlimited, September 19, 2006.</ref><ref name="goodman">{{cite web | url=http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2007/02/09/no_change_in_political_climate/ | title=No change in political climate | author=] | publisher=] | date=] ] | accessdate=2008-08-30}}</ref><ref> Joel Connelly. Seattle Post-Intelligencer, July 10, 2007.</ref> and ']'.<ref name=coe_report>{{cite web|url=http://assembly.coe.int/Main.asp?link=/Documents/WorkingDocs/Doc07/EDOC11297.htm|title=The dangers of creationism in education|publisher=]|accessdate=2007-08-03}}</ref> Southern Methodist University.</ref><ref>{{cite journal | quotes = no | last = Sitze | first = Adam | date = 2004 | title = Denialism | journal = South Atlantic Quarterly | volume = 103 | issue = 4 | pages = 769–811 | url = http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/south_atlantic_quarterly/v103/103.4sitze.pdf | doi = 10.1215/00382876-103-4-769 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | quotes = no | last = Watson | first = James | date = 2006 | title = Scientists, activists sue South Africa's AIDS 'denialists' | journal = Nature Medicine | volume = 12 | issue = 1 | pages = 6 | url = http://www.nature.com/nm/journal/v12/n1/pdf/nm0106-6a.pdf | doi = 10.1038/nm0106-6a }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | quotes = no | year = 2006 | title = Editorial: Denying science | journal = Nature Medicine | volume = 12 | issue = 4 | pages = 369 | url = http://www.nature.com/nm/journal/v12/n4/pdf/nm0406-369.pdf | doi = 10.1038/nm0406-369 }}</ref> '],<ref>. By Mark Hoofnagle. . Published February 10, 2009.</ref><ref>. By Jacob Dickerman. '']''. Published March 30, 2009.</ref><ref>{{cite doi|10.1038/459168a}}</ref> ']'<ref name="denial_ind_guardian"> George Monbiot. Guardian Unlimited, September 19, 2006.</ref><ref name="goodman">{{cite web | url=http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2007/02/09/no_change_in_political_climate/ | title=No change in political climate | author=] | publisher=] | date=] ] | accessdate=2008-08-30}}</ref><ref> Joel Connelly. Seattle Post-Intelligencer, July 10, 2007.</ref> and ']'.<ref name=coe_report>{{cite web|url=http://assembly.coe.int/Main.asp?link=/Documents/WorkingDocs/Doc07/EDOC11297.htm|title=The dangers of creationism in education|publisher=]|accessdate=2007-08-03}}</ref>


Revision as of 11:52, 10 July 2009

Denialism is the term used to describe the position of governments, political parties, business groups, interest groups, or individuals who reject propositions on which a scientific or scholarly consensus exists. Such groups and individuals are said to be engaging in denialism when they seek to influence policy processes and outcomes by using rhetorical tactics to give the appearance of argument or legitimate debate, when in actuality there is none.

The term was first used in the sense of 'holocaust denialism', but the usage has broadened to include 'AIDS denialism', 'vaccine denialism, 'climate change denialism' and 'evolution denialism'.

Illegitimate methodology and tactics

Denialism is a form of propaganda covering a variety of activities. It can be as simple as like-minded individuals signing letters of dissent, or as elaborate as professional grey or black propaganda campaigns by advertising and marketing agencies.

Denialism can arise from personal ideologies, or desire for profit. Industry groups may seek to protect markets from damaging facts and information. Political groups may work to advance their agendas. Combinations of these may work in concert with interest groups on issues of mutual importance. Despite the disparity between these groups and the motives behind them, the tactics used by denialists are largely similar. Common features include:

  • Conspiracism - Suggesting scientists have an ulterior motive for their research, or that they are part of some hidden plan or agenda.
  • Selectivity - Relying upon discredited or flawed work supporting their idea while dismissing more credible work; presenting discredited or superseded papers to make a field look like it is based on weak research. Inflating favorable 'evidence' while discounting the contradictory, often while misrepresenting the significance of each. The selective use of evidence by denialists includes quote mining and cherry picking.
  • False experts - Citing paid, partisan scientists or self-appointed 'experts,' whose credentials are often in an unrelated field.
  • Impossible expectations - Seeking to prevent the implementation of sound policies or acceptance of a theory by citing the absence of 'complete' or 'absolute' knowledge.
  • Misrepresentations and logical fallacies - Denialists sometimes employ logical fallacies: red herring; straw man; appeal to consequences; false analogy. An example of the misuse of analogy in arguments is the watchmaker analogy. A common misrepresentation used in the intelligent design movement is the intentional use of the term Darwinism when what is being objected to is evolution. An example of an appeal to consequences is the common neo-creationist claim that an acceptance of evolution (Darwinism) leads to social ills such as the atrocities committed by Hitler's Nazi regime, providing also an example of the reductio ad Hitlerum fallacy often used by denialists and an example of cherry-picking, since Hitler also appealed to religion, germ theory, and animal husbandry. Another common fallacy, often used in conjunction with impossible expectations, is the false dilemma fallacy, whereby unless there is an absolute proof of an assertion, the assertion is claimed false.

Additional propaganda techniques that, while sometimes convincing, are not necessarily valid include: flag-waving, glittering generalities, thought-terminating clichés, intentional vagueness, oversimplification, rationalization, slogans, stereotyping, testimonial, unstated assumption.

Ideological denialism

Ideologies that conflict with commonly accepted scientific theories or facts can drive their holders to engage in personal forms of denial, either to favor their personal beliefs, or to avoid having to reconcile those beliefs with contradictory evidence.

Common forms of denialism arising from ideologies are Holocaust denial, Holodomor denial, AIDS denialism, the vaccine controversy, and the creation-evolution controversy.

Corporate denialism

International corporations such as ExxonMobil have been criticized for contributing to scientists and scientific experimentation questioning the scientific consensus on global climate change. ExxonMobil has strenuously denied the accusations, stating that "The recycling of this type of discredited conspiracy theory diverts attention from the real challenge at hand: how to provide the energy needed to improve global living standards while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions." Newsweek and Mother Jones have published articles stating corporations are funding the climate change denial "denial industry".

Political denialism

The Bush Administration's replacement of previous science advisers with industry experts or scientists tied to industry, and its refusal to submit the Kyoto Protocol for ratification due to uncertainties they asserted were present in the climate change issue, have been cited as examples of politically motivated denialism by the press. The general class of genocide denial, of which holocaust denial is a subset, is another form of political denialism.

See also

References

  1. See, e.g., Stoff, Rick (2007). "'Denialism' and muddying the waters". St. Louis Journalism Review. 37 (296): 21–33, 2p. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |quotes= ignored (help)
  2. Diethelm, PA and McKee, M (2009). "Denialism: what is it and how should scientists respond?". European Journal of Public Health. 19 (1): 2–4. doi:10.1093/eurpub/ckn139. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |quotes= ignored (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. Kim, Richard (2007-03-02). "Harper's Publishes AIDS Denialist". The Nation. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |quotes= ignored (help)
  4. Cotton, John L. and Randall J. Scalise. AIDS Denial is Pseudoscience. Department of Physics Southern Methodist University.
  5. Sitze, Adam (2004). "Denialism" (PDF). South Atlantic Quarterly. 103 (4): 769–811. doi:10.1215/00382876-103-4-769. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |quotes= ignored (help)
  6. Watson, James (2006). "Scientists, activists sue South Africa's AIDS 'denialists'" (PDF). Nature Medicine. 12 (1): 6. doi:10.1038/nm0106-6a. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |quotes= ignored (help)
  7. "Editorial: Denying science" (PDF). Nature Medicine. 12 (4): 369. 2006. doi:10.1038/nm0406-369. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |quotes= ignored (help)
  8. The Autism/Vaccines Fraud. By Mark Hoofnagle. scienceblogs.com/denialism/. Published February 10, 2009.
  9. Vaccine Denial = Scientific Illiteracy. By Jacob Dickerman. The Huffington Post. Published March 30, 2009.
  10. Attention: This template ({{cite doi}}) is deprecated. To cite the publication identified by doi:10.1038/459168a, please use {{cite journal}} (if it was published in a bona fide academic journal, otherwise {{cite report}} with |doi=10.1038/459168a instead.
  11. ^ The denial industry George Monbiot. Guardian Unlimited, September 19, 2006.
  12. Ellen Goodman (9 February 2007). "No change in political climate". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 2008-08-30. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  13. Deniers of global warming harm us Joel Connelly. Seattle Post-Intelligencer, July 10, 2007.
  14. "The dangers of creationism in education". Council of Europe. Retrieved 2007-08-03.
  15. Mark Hoofnagle, "What is Denialism?" March 18, 2007.
  16. The Denialists Michael Specter. The New Yorker, March 12, 2007.
  17. Eye on Science - Science Blog - Michael D. Lemonick - TIME
  18. PZ Myers in Pharyngula: Dr Michael Egnor challenges evolution!. February 18, 2007
  19. Orac in ScienceBlogs: Train wreck, thy name is Egnor! March 12, 2007
  20. Does Darwinism Devalue Human Life? Richard Weikart. The Human Life Review. Discovery Institute, March 1 2004.
  21. The dead hand of denialism Edwin Cameron. Mail & Guardian (Johannesburg), April 17, 2003.
  22. Smith TC, Novella SP (2007) HIV Denial in the Internet Era. PLoS Med 4(8): e256 doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.0040256
  23. CBC: Gore takes aim at corporately funded climate research. August 7, 2007
  24. ^ The Truth About Denial Sharon Begley. Newsweek August 13, 2007.
  25. Put a Tiger In Your Think Tank. May/June 2005 (Internet Archive)
  26. Timeline, Climate Change and its Naysayers Newsweek August 13, 2007.
  27. Dickinson, Tim (2007-06-20). "The Secret Campaign of President Bush's Administration To Deny Global Warming". Current Biology. Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2007-07-14. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  28. See, e.g., Elizabeth Strakosch (2005) "The Political Methodology of Genocide Denial"
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