In Pursuit of a Good Conversation

[T_aquaticus]

@Mlkluther

As a non-scientist it has been surprising to me to see the way in which the conversations around here between the scientifically minded get divisive rather quickly. It appears, to a scientific outsider like me, that among scientists there are “denominations.” People from different scientific “denominations” come to argue with others as to why their scientific “denomination” is correct and others are wrong. It doesn’t always seem to me an argument from the evidence because one’s view of the evidence is already established due to a priori assumptions and reasoning from their “denomination.”

You should keep in mind that scientists are arguers by profession. The primary output of scientific research is arguments for a conclusion being right. For better or worse, science is not for the timid. There is also an ethos in science that arguments are a good thing.