Mistrust of science isn’t always irrational

The doctor-patient gap must be closed

The medical establishment often dismisses skepticism of vaccines and treatments as irrational fear. But, as Katherine Furman argues, it can sometimes be rational to trust your friends and neighbours over distant experts – for example, in cases when one lacks information about the aims and values of those experts. Instead of manipulating people into compliance or emphasising the authority of expertise, the real solution lies in bringing scientists and medics closer to the communities they serve.

 

1. Trusting friends and neighbours

Continue reading

Enjoy unlimited access to the world's leading thinkers.

Start by exploring our subscription options or joining our mailing list today.

Start Free Trial

Already a subscriber? Log in

Latest Releases
Join the conversation

ashley ashleywalters 29 October 2024

My name is ashley walters !!! i am very grateful sharing this great testimonies with you all, The best thing that has ever happened in my life, is how I won the Powerball lottery. I do believe that someday i will win the Powerball lottery. Finally my dreams came through when i contacted Dr. OSE and tell him i needed the lottery winning special numbers cause i have come a long way spending money on ticket just to make sure i win. But i never knew that winning was so easy with the help of Dr. OSE, until the day i meant the spell caster testimony online, which a lot of people has talked about that he is very powerful and has great powers in casting lottery spell, so i decided to give it a try. I emailed Dr. OSE and he did a spell and gave me the winning lottery special numbers 62, and co-incidentally I have be playing this same number for the past 23years without any winning, But believe me when I play the special number 62 this time and the draws were out i was the mega winner because the special 62 matched all five white-ball numbers as well as the Powerball, in the April 4 drawing to win the $70 million jackpot prize...… Dr. OSE, truly you are the best, with Dr. OSE you can will millions of money through lottery. i am a living testimony and so very happy i meant him, and i will forever be grateful to him...… you can Email him for your own winning special lottery numbers now oseremenspelltemple @ gmail. com whatsapp +2348136482342

colin flannery 15 October 2024

No, a distrust of science is always irrational. All this article does is justify the irrationality. While a lack of education may be exculpatory for the individual, it does not make their views rational, any more than a lack of friends who understand climate change makes ones climate change denial "rational".