Pinker’s ideal for science — the objective search for the truth that sets aside all assumptions, presuppositions, and biases in favor of observation and experimentation — is certainly laudable, and I agree with him that we should pursue this ideal. However, let’s not delude ourselves into thinking that scientists — himself included — can entirely lay aside all their biases and assumptions that color their ideas and theories. Science is a good thing, to be sure, but let’s not turn it into another religion by insisting that whatever is considered “consensus science” is always the gospel truth and anyone questioning the scientific consensus is a heretic worthy of scorn (or worse).

Pinker’s ideal for science — the objective search for the truth that sets aside all assumptions, presuppositions, and biases in favor of observation and experimentation — is certainly laudable, and I agree with him that we should pursue this ideal. However, let’s not delude ourselves into thinking that scientists — himself included — can entirely lay aside all their biases and assumptions that color their ideas and theories. Science is a good thing, to be sure, but let’s not turn it into another religion by insisting that whatever is considered “consensus science” is always the gospel truth and anyone questioning the scientific consensus is a heretic worthy of scorn (or worse).