It's not Science Denial but the Prostitution of Science

Michael Specter raises an important issue regarding the role of science in society. He is right in the sense that we have made tremendous progress insofar as health is concerned - indicated by an increase in the average lifespan of humans today. He points to the potential and the possibility of an optimized use of science today. The example he gives is injecting vitamin A into rice and feeding famished countries. And in part, I agree that science can help these global concerns. The barrier to this optimization of science, for Specter, is what he calls science denial; the denial of facts. We are in an epidemic of fear and reject the progress made in science. But I think he oversimplifies the problems surrounding the matter

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