Here's The Thing

There is, moreover, no denying that there is a strong consensus among climate scientists on the existence of A.G.W. — in their view, human activities are warming the planet.  There are climate scientists who doubt or deny this claim, but even they show a clear sense of opposing a view that is dominant in their discipline.   Nonexpert opponents of A.G.W. usually base their case on various criticisms that a small minority of climate scientists have raised against the consensus view.   But nonexperts are in no position to argue against the consensus of scientific experts.   As long as they accept the expert authority of the discipline of climate science, they have no basis for supporting the minority position.  Critics within the community of climate scientists may have a cogent case against A.G.W., but, given the overall consensus of that community, we nonexperts have no basis for concluding that this is so.  It does no good to say that we find the consensus conclusions poorly supported.  Since we are not experts on the subject, our judgment  has no standing. (Gary Gutting, Professor of Philosophy, University of Notre Dame, NYT, 6/12/2011)

The good professor, shilling for the global warming crowd, states his case: there is a consensus of scientists who believe in global warming (we thought it was now called climate change?); you and RedStateVT are not experts; ergo, we should believe the experts who are in the majority.  


Here are our problems with this line of thinking.  Is there a consensus?  Has someone lined up every scientist who is an expert and polled them?  Even if the numbers fall their way, however, they are suspect.  Consider that one reason there may be more who believe the climate change is that they are invested in the issue. They get paid.  Middlebury College is not hiring any professors to the position of Professor of Climate Change Skepticism.  The scientists who beat the climate change drum get paid.  Those who disagree, don't.


Gutting fails to consider the human aspect: money talks.  


Oh, and one more thing on the whole consensus thing. What was that whole hub-bub about Galileo?