Experts and Global Warming

Check out Gary Gutting's article from the New York Times Opinionater blog, titled On Experts and Global Warming.  Gary Gutting is a professor of philosophy at the University of Notre Dame, and is writing articles for the NYT that apply philosophy to current events.  In this article--you guessed it--he applies philosophy to global warming.

What does he have to say about it?

First, Gutting looks at the experts:  who are the experts, and what is their consensus? 

Consider, for example, current discussions about climate change, specifically about whether there is long-term global warming caused primarily by human activities (anthropogenic global warming or A.G.W.).  All creditable parties to this debate recognize a group of experts designated as “climate scientists,” whom they cite in either support or opposition to their claims about global warming.  In contrast to enterprises such as astrology or homeopathy, there is no serious objection to the very project of climate science.  The only questions are about the conclusions this project supports about global warming.

There is, moreover, no denying that there is a strong consensus among climate scientists on the existence of A.G.W. — in their view, human activities are warming the planet.  There are climate scientists who doubt or deny this claim, but even they show a clear sense of opposing a view that is dominant in their discipline.

Gutting's argument is that, when a consensus has been reached by experts, "nonexperts are in no position to argue against the consensus of scientific experts."  When the majority of climate scientists believe that the planet is warming as a result of our activities, who are we to know better than the experts?  Well, what about the experts that disagree with the consensus?  Can't we believe their opinion?

As long as [nonexperts] accept the expert authority of the discipline of climate science, they have no basis for supporting the minority position.  Critics within the community of climate scientists may have a cogent case against A.G.W., but, given the overall consensus of that community, we nonexperts have no basis for concluding that this is so.  It does no good to say that we find the consensus conclusions poorly supported.  Since we are not experts on the subject, our judgment  has no standing.

Since climate scientists agree that global warming exists and is increased by human actions, those of us that aren't climate scientists can only accept the premise, since we aren't truly able to judge the position ourselves. 

What do you think?  Tell us in the comments below, and don't forget to check out Sizzle this fall!

HOT COMEDY NIGHT

New Suit Theatre Company presents a night of stand-up comedy.  The planet's getting hot and these comics are gonna Sizzle!  This will be New Suit's latest fundraiser and celebration for our upcoming show, Sizzle: A Global Warming Comedy.

Hot Comedy Night

Presented at Mary's Attic (Above Hamburger Mary's in Andersonville)
5400 N. Clark St.
Chicago, IL
Date TBD: Sept 2nd or 3rd, 7-9pm

$10 donation at the door for a night of laughs spent with good people.  All ages welcome, but please bring your ID if you plan to drink at the bar.  Mary's Attic will be reserved for New Suit and its audience from 7pm to 9pm.  The party won't stop at 9, that's just when they let the general public in to join in the merriment!

Don't forget to buy your raffle tickets!  For The Informathon, we gave away awesome prizes like:
-A Hybrid Schwinn bike
-Artwork by local artists
-Gift certificates to local shops
-A stay at a bed and breakfast
-A free tattoo
-Tickets to our shows
We'll have more awesome prizes for our Hot Comedy Night!

Want to be a part of Hot Comedy Night?
Are you a stand-up comedian, or have you always wanted to be?  Contact us at newsuittheatre@gmail.com to join us and perform your set!

Hope to see you there!

Real-life JedIraq?

Did you see our production of JedIraq?  Did you ever want to do what Keandra did--go to Iraq and learn about the situation yourself?

Check out this story about an Arizona bus tour.  If you've ever wanted to know more about illegal immigration and drug-smuggling over the US/Mexico border, try the Gray Line Tours' "Border Crisis:  Fact or Fiction." 

For just $89, tourists can watch US Borders and Custom Protection inspectors and have lunch with an officer, meet with a rancher whose land is on the border, and visit produce importers who need to get produce over the border before it goes bad.

What do you think?  Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

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