You've provided historical examples that some libertarians came down on the wrong side of specific scientific issues. That doesn't even automatically mean that they came down on the wont side of the issue solely or even primarily because of biases due to their ideology. Its quite possible that they did, maybe even likely but you haven't actually demonstrated even that. But lets assume for the sake of argument that its an airtight certainty that the reason for the inaccurate conclusion was ideological bias. That still doesn't show that they are more prone to ideological bias about science than any other political group
The bottom line is that they cannot pick the winner. Why? I merely suggested why I thought so. If you can suggest a better reason why, please do so. If you can provide data indicating they choose the winner better than I think they do, by all means point me in the right direction. BTW, conservatives, libertarians, and religious people by and large share the same attitudes on these issues, (smoking perhaps not so for the religious). It is why I view this triangle as anti-science. There is some common thread.
Again no more so than any other group defined by ideology. You show no reason to show that they are more biased the conservatives or liberals, they are I think clearly less biased the communists have been. Why pick on libertarians?
I agree that the others often are as well. I part company with all of them for similar reasons on certain areas. In general, I find liberals more accepting of science in the areas of biology/ecology, and environmental issues, although I know that some liberals have issues in the social sciences. I'm less into the social sciences. I think Libertarians actually have a better grasp on some social science issues than Liberals do. But in general, ideology is a poor guide, so avoid those who use it.
If your going after librarians in general they aren't particularly biased about science. If your going after libertarian ideologues well than yes I suppose there would be a fair amount of bias but the same could be said about all ideologues. Either way I don't see any reason to single out libertarians. If your statement was made about libertarians, it could probably apple to people in general. If it was made about libertarian ideologues, you would do better just complaining about ideologues.
Point me to a prominent Libertarian who is not an ideologue, and I will happily look into the matter. I don't know any. |
