Latest proposal in “scientific” journal: Criticism of scientists should be illegal “hate crime” – that is, a thought crime. But criticism of which scientists, and when?

• If I criticized Fauci when he said masks were unhelpful?
• If I criticized Fauci when he said masks were essential?
• If I criticized Fauci when he said virus could not have originated in Wuhan lab?
• If I criticized Fauci when he said virus could have originated in Wuhan lab?
• If I criticized scientists who say ivermectin is dangerous and doesn’t work?
• If I criticized scientists who say ivermectin is safe and often works?
• If I criticized scientists who say Fauci is past his sell-by date?

Obviously, the author means that criticism of government scientists should be a crime, while criticism of other scientists can be allowed if officials choose to allow it. So the proposal has nothing to do with protecting science, but is intended to punish criticism of government officials.

Science is not a set of beliefs that must be accepted – that is dogmatic religion. Science is not a group of officials that must be agreed with and obeyed – that is tyranny. Science is a method: form a hypothesis, test it by experiments. If the experiments support the hypothesis, accept it and move forward. It the experiments don’t support the hypothesis, reject it and form a new hypothesis.

Stalin became entranced with the phony theories of biology quack Lysenko. Because of Lysenko’s erroneous ideas, Soviet agriculture was impaired and people went hungry. But he was the official scientist, so criticism of him was illegal. He remained in power till Stalin died. If we are looking for a role model to emulate, why choose such a horrible, authoritarian one?

What does this reveal about the author of the article? What in his psychological background gives him the urge to control others to the point of punishment? As a role model, why did he choose Lysenko instead of Einstein?

No amount of experimentation can ever prove me right; a single experiment can prove me wrong. − Albert Einstein

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