Misunderstanding Science

Science Progress advisor Art Caplan adds to the string of excoriating reviews of Ben Stein’s Expelled in his most recent MSNBC column. Caplan argues that the film isn’t just bad, but immoral in its sophistry. He also points out that if the creationist agenda of the film’s creators aims to attack the biological sciences, then other countries will gladly accept the torch as leaders in research:

The definition of what science is and what should be taught as science in a world in which Asia and Europe are itching to clean our economic clocks by seeing us throw away our considerable lead in synthetic biology, genomics, agriculture and the biomedical, oceanographic, geological and energy sciences escapes Stein and his producers. This despite the fact they have ample time to regale us with all the documentary stylings involving old movies, public health messages and TV film clips that Michael Moore has already made stale. The failure to say what science is constitutes a huge failing in this cinematic cant.

Among the many problems with promoting anti-scientific sentiment is that it impairs the country’s ability to develop scientific solutions to real-world problems. Without the fruits of scientific research, citizens would be less healthy, less safe, and the economy would be far less dynamic.

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