‘Denialism’ Is Dangerous, and Smugness Is Just Ignorant

You are so gullible! What a maroon!

No one wants to be on the receiving end of those words, so too many of us decide to doubt everything. Or just as bad, believe only things that are anti-establishment (i.e. anti-science).

Author Michael Specter has a book just out called “Denialism” about the type of people who assume vaccines are evil, organicana is pure and experts are shills.

“Denialism” is a good book. I like it. But I’ve read books just like this before. I agree with him that dangerously few people have the time, education or intellectual stamina to suss things out for themselves so they take easy, magical answers.

But maybe everyone wanting a little more logic in the world can try for a middle ground, between patronizing and “You nitwit.” Don’t just find the truth. Help everyone else find it, too.

The New York Times had a more forgiving review of “Denialism”: http://tinyurl.com/denialism