Claim CA310:
Scientists find what they expect to find.
Response:
- Scientific results are tested. This has two very important
consequences: First, the scientists know that their results will be
subject to challenge, so they work harder to make sure the evidence
really does support their results. Second, published ideas that the
evidence does not support will get rejected, especially in times or
places with different cultural biases.
- Scientists more than most people are trained to be objective. Although
expectations can affect their conclusions, they would not affect them
to a large degree. Most certainly, they would not blind all
biologists and geologists to all the evidence, as would be necessary
if creationism were true.
- At the start of the nineteenth century, scientists expected to find
evidence for creation and a global flood. Instead, they found evidence
for evolution, which is why evolution was the accepted theory by the
end of the century.
- Creationists find what they want to find. Since their entire world
view is threatened by finding disconfirming evidence, they are very
highly motivated not to see it. Scientists, on the other hand, usually
welcome disconfirming evidence when it comes along.
created 2000-11-18
