Homeopathy has not worked in 175 years

As anyone who subscribes to the scientific method knows homeopathy does not work. Interestingly Orac, while cleaning up his attic, discovered:

the oldest double-blind RCT of which I found record was conducted in 1835 in Nuremberg, Bavaria, and subsequently described in an editorial in 2006 entitled “Inventing the randomized double-blind trial: The Nuremberg salt test of 1835.”

It is not just today we have investigated and determined homeopathy is nothing more than wishful-thinking: that debate was settled 175 years ago! That is, to those that have not been infected with the denialist-virus.

There may be hope

Despite my somewhat cynical observation that there is a widespread anti-science movement I do see the occasional glimmer of hope. This time it is Simon Singh winning the legal battle that was the result of the farcical libel laws in Britain. The Times reported:

The British Chiropractic Association (BCA) this morning dropped its libel claim against Dr Singh, two weeks after a landmark judgment by the Court of Appeal ruled that the author could use the defence of fair comment. 

More on the history of how the irrational tried to strongarm him for pointing out the unscientific nature of their claims by Ben Goldacre and Orac. Obviously, when you cannot win on the merits there is always the British libel laws. Please support their reform.

Update: We should not forget the response by Steven Novella.

Delusional disorder: Part III

Continuing the series (see Part I and Part II), that attempts to explain why people object to science, I want to clarify a few things. First, my suggestion they suffer from a delusional disorder is in no way a scientific observation. It is only my contention that the criteria for mass psychosis appear to cover most of the anti-science movement. Calling it delusional is merely my way of describing a certain characteristic: the dismissal of anything (read: scientific evidence) that contradicts the anti-science stance. Second, I was asked whether the suggested traits apply to all manifestations of the denialist-disorder. Intuitively I would say yes, but let's review that position in more detail among those that refute the scientific method. In my opinion the anti-science movement engage in:

1. Cult-like behaviour: dogmatically supporting the all-knowing Leader,
2. Conspiracy theory: there is a global conspiracy to hide The Truth,
3. Misunderstanding what science entails: i.e. if there is one thing science cannot explain that proves all those things that have been elucidated (evolution, germtheory) are wrong,
4. Double standard: even if science is right it does not apply to their specific case, i.e. because of their unique nature Intelligent Design, homeopathy, paranormal claims, et cetera, should not be held to the same standard as the scientific community,
5. Thinking that attending Google University (Dah Google) equals years of study, and doing reseach, in a certain field -expert opinion is just that: opinion,

Regarding its applicability to the entire anti-science movement, this time I made a more elaborate, though not comprehensive, analysis:

• Anti-vaccination, a.k.a. infectious diseases promotion movement: 

1.   Cult-like behaviour: The Leader (Andrew Wakefield) discovered The Truth (vaccines are dangerous) and it is treated as dogma,

2.   The Truth is a highly unlikely theory which ignores a multitude of evidence disproving it,

3.   Conspiracy: Scientists and Big Pharma are hiding The Truth from us, vaccines are dangerous and do not work,

4.   Misrepresentations and logical fallacies: the fall of The Leader is because of point 3 and absolutely not related to the scientific quality of his claims,
5.  Double standard: claiming unethical behaviour of scientists while ignoring actual misconduct by "sceptics."

• Anti-global warming:

1.    Cult-like behaviour: The Leader (lobbying groups) discovered The Truth (global warming is non-existent) and it is treated as dogma,

2.    The Truth is a highly unlikely theory which ignores a multitude of evidence disproving it,

3.    Conspiracy: climategate proves scientists are hiding The Truth,

4.    Misrepresentations and logical fallacies: the fact scientists debate the details proves there is no scientific consensus,
5.  Double standard: claiming unethical behaviour of scientists while ignoring actual misconduct by "sceptics."   

• Anti-evolution:

1.    Cult-like behaviour: The Leader (god through preachers) pointed out The Truth (the bible and not evolution explains life) and it is treated as dogma,

2.    The Truth is a highly unlikely theory which ignores a multitude of evidence disproving it,

3.    Conspiracy: scientists refuse to accept Intelligence Design as mainstream science because they oppose god, and/or work for satan,

4.    Misrepresentations and logical fallacies: Dover vs. Kitzmiller established that its most vocal proponents admitted that ID is not science, in public discourse they nevertheless keep claiming it is.        

• Anti-HIV causes AIDS:

1.    Cult-like behaviour: The Leader (Duesberg) discovered The Truth (HIV does not cause AIDS) and it is treated as dogma,

2.    The Truth is a highly unlikely theory which ignores a multitude of evidence disproving it, most notably the numerous studies showing the efficacy of current treatment, aimed at the virus, in combatting AIDS,

3.    Conspiracy: scientists are hiding the fact that AIDS is caused by the same treatments that are given to combat the disorder,

4.    Misrepresentations and logical fallacies:

• Anti-rule of law: 

1.   Cult-like behaviour: The Leader (the Bush administration) discovered The Truth (terrorism by muslims is a new global threat and will cause the end of the world) and it is treated as dogma,

2.   The Truth is a highly unlikely theory which ignores a multitude of evidence disproving it, such as a) before 9-11 we already had terrorism, b) terrorism is not even remotely a credible major cause of death worldwide, c) terrorism is influenced by the policies adopted by the West, d) the War of Terror is anything but a success,

3.   Conspiracy: Lefties and civil rights advocates hide The Truth from us, terrorists are dangerous and if you do not give up basic civil and human rights they will destroy the world. Those pointing out the tyrannical and Orwellian nature of that premise effectively support terrorism,
4.   Misrepresentations and logical fallacies: by redefining the word terrorism it now includes almost all activities previously thought to be part of any democratic society: i.e. freedom of speech, dissent, 
5.  Double standard: any act by non-americans is terrorism but the same done by the U.S. is a priori not terrorism.
 

The common thread is a Leader disseminating The Truth, and the infallibility of The Leader (dogma!) means that no amount of evidence is sufficient to persuade the followers of The Truth that it is incorrect. (Is it me or does this sound like some sort of religion? Hmm, didn't somebody opine on religious concepts being evolutionary advantageous to the first hominids?) So, whatever the specific flavour of denialism, its adherents are incapable of incorporating any evidence contrary to their opinion. Any belief (but I know it is The Truth) that cannot be corrected by reality is called a delusion by psychiatrists.

Why is it these people are so resistent to fact? One study -Cultural Cognition Project; George Washington University Law School- introduces the cultural cognition of risk which:

posits that individuals tend to form perceptions of risk that reflect and reinforce one or another idealized vision of how society should be organized.

                 -snip-

Thus, generally speaking, persons who subscribe to individualistic values tend to dismiss claims of environmental risks, because acceptance of such claims implies the need to regulate markets, commerce, and other outlets for individual strivings. Persons with more egalitarian and communitarian values, in contrast, resent commerce and industry as forms of noxious self-seeking productive of unjust disparity, and thus readily accept that such activities are dangerous and worthy of regulation. Finally, like those who subscribe to an individualistic ethos, persons who subscribe to hierarchical values resist claims of environmental risk, which they perceive as subversive indictments of social and governmental elites.

Regarding scientific consensus the article notes that:

The cultural cognition thesis predict that individuals will more readily recall instances of experts taking the position that is consistent with their cultural predisposition than ones taking positions inconsistent with it.

Personally, I divide the anti-science movement into two groups. The first consists of the purveyors of nonsense. They probably are aware of the inaccuracy of the claims but for monetary reasons, or other vested interests, insist on promoting non-fact based ideas: i.e. quacks, "journalists," lobbying groups, (oil, tobacco, weapons, et cetera). Then there are the adherents, disciples if you will, of nonsensical theories. This group has several reasons for ignoring reality:

1. They lack adequate education to recognise the difference between science/facts and propaganda, a.k.a. marketing, which is amplified by
2. The media adopting the "we report, you decide"-doctrine which creates controversies that are non-existent,
3. Combined with the Kruger-Dunning-effect, which makes the least informed think they are the best to render judgement on a certain topic,
4. They need arguments for not having to change their life-style (I have a right to waste as much resources as I want), or to keep hoping for that miracle cure.

In short, magical thinking refuses to be replaced by the scientific method since the worldview of the Dark Ages is so much better. Can this be understood using biology? Is our visceral response (dear leader tell me what to do) based on something akin to group-think which, when you are a wolf, may be advantageous in the wild but for a contemporary homo sapiens it is no longer necessary, even counterproductive, to survive. According to Skeptical Science:

In 2008 the Milinski group found that only if disaster was 90% certain, i.e. the individual would suffer irreversible losses, could humans be motivated to reach a given target of total required preventive investments.

Should that be true it will take alot more evolving for us to eradicate the denialist-virus.

Update: Just posted part IV.

Climategate: Much ado about nothing

As I stated before most "controversies" are non-existent within the scientific community. One example was the hype dubbed climategate. As expected this non-controversy was based upon fabricated tales, of a meanspirited conspiracy by evil scientists, to get you out of your hummer. Lo and behold, are you sitting down?, the allegations turn out to be unsupported by the facts. MSNBC reports on the investigation by The House of Commons' Science and Technology Committee, in the UK:

... the committee said that, as far as it was able to ascertain, "the scientific reputation of Professor Jones and CRU remains intact," adding that nothing in the more than 1,000 stolen e-mails, or the controversy kicked up by their publication, challenged scientific consensus that "global warming is happening and that it is induced by human activity."

The Independent and The Times notice it too. Interestingly, and naturally totally unrelated to that manufactroversy, The Guardian observes:

A Greenpeace investigation has identified a little-known, privately owned US oil company as the paymaster of global warming sceptics in the US and Europe.
The environmental campaign group accuses Kansas-based Koch Industries, which owns refineries and operates oil pipelines, of funding 35 conservative and libertarian groups, as well as more than 20 congressmen and senators. Between them, Greenpeace says, these groups and individuals have spread misinformation about climate science and led a sustained assault on climate scientists and green alternatives to fossil fuels.

One more lie debunked. However, since the anti-science movement has no particular interest in the facts I predict this will not influence the "debate."

Update: For those interested in peer reviewed papers on this topic, they can be found here.

Update II:  More here.

Update III: Additional comment by Tim Lambert.

Delusional disorder: Part II

In part I I outlined the tactics of the anti-science movement. In case you missed their various incarnations, I am talking about those denialists that claim that: the holocaust is just a PR-stunt, HIV does not cause AIDS, Global Warming is not happening, vaccines are the cause of everything evil, evolution is merely a theory, mobile phones cause cancer, terrorism is the biggest threat to your life, et cetera.

This time I want to try and understand why people are so resistent to facts contradicting their personal believesystem. The common thread of all "denialist controversies" is that no amount of evidence is sufficient to persuade denialists that they are simply wrong. This reminds me of what I was taught about the difference between an illusion and a delusion. When we have an illusion we see or hear things, but we are aware they are not actually there, i.e. illusionist, magician. A delusion, however, is seeing or hearing things without realising it is not there. No amount of evidence will convince people, suffering from a delusion, that it is imaginary, i.e. paranoid delusional disorder.

With this in mind I noticed the always invoked conpiracy -Big Pharma, Illuminati, Big Oil, et cetera- to explain away the multitude of scientific evidence refuting the denialist position. Add to that the Matrix-inspired notion that fact and fiction are essentially the same (i.e. evolution is merely one theory of many), together with the always present-both-sides-equally-fallacy invoking media, and science is guarenteed to lose.

Regardless of their idiosynchratic reality-refuting opinions the anti-science crowd shares some interesting characteristics. Skeptical Science noticed this too, and points out five characteristics of the anti-science disorder:

1. Conspiracy theories,
2. Fake experts,
3. Cherry picking,
4. Impossible expectations of what research can deliver,
5. Misrepresentation and logical fallacies.
   

Personally, I see the following traits among denialists:

1. Indoctrination,
2. Dogma supercedes evidence,
3. The denialist is always right, when he is proven wrong see point 2, 6 and 7,
4. Megalomania: the denialist is the only person capable of understanding/seeing The Truth,
5. Inconsistency: rigorously applying standards to others while failing to adhere to those standards themselves, see point 6,
6. Using invented facts, double-standard and logical fallacies,
7. Conspiracy theory: confronted with any evidence to the contrary it is dismissed as fake (scientists and industry work in unison to plant evidence to hide The Truth)
8. Cult-like behaviour (because of point 1)

Thinking of the DSM-IV one can't help but notice the similarity with the paranoid delusional disorder. The propensity to create elaborate explanations for ignoring/refuting what science says is the hallmark of delusional people. Since the "teach the controversy"-crowd has succeeded in removing critical thinking skills from schools' curricula and the media in their reports refuse to "take sides" we live in a world where fact and fiction have become equal.

Update: Kimball Atwood makes some suggestions regarding adherents of "alternative medicine," and wonders why:

some people are drawn to implausible treatments, even in the face of compelling, contradictory evidence. Such investigations might begin by looking at the work of Beyerstein and Alcock, for example.

Update II: Posted a more detailed explanation on the rationale behind the anti-science crowd.