A college president and scientist explains why he is participating in the March for Science
Preview:
There's a scene in Monty Python and the Holy Grail that I always enjoyed. A mob brings a woman before Sir Bedevere the Wise, claiming that she is a witch and they want to burn her. The knight leads them through a chain of “logic” about how to determine if she really is a witch. If witches burn, they must be made of wood. If wood floats, it must weigh the same as a duck. So, if the woman weighs the same as a duck, she must be a witch. I can't remember all the details, but the woman is “proven” to be a witch, and the mob gets its way, ostensibly backed by science.
Originally published: April 17, 2017
Author: Andrew Hamilton
Position: President
Institution: New York University
Published by: Inside Higher Ed