Persuading Conservatives: Bridging the Trust Gap in Scientific Consensus

How can we get more conservatives to trust scientific consensus? Evidence would be a good start. For example, scientific evidence that provides a reason to believe in Evolutionism over Creationism is crucial. However, can you think of a single example of scientific evidence presented in support of Evolutionism that could not be interpreted for Creationism? Just one example would suffice.

Science vs. Political Correctness

Persuading conservatives to trust scientific consensus requires a fundamental understanding of the difference between the scientific method and political correctness. Liberals might argue that more information and evidence will solve the problem, but shutting down debate that you don't agree with is politically correct, not scientific. Open debate and letting the facts speak for themselves are key principles in the scientific method. The consensus, while important, may not be as strong as it seems.

It is often said that, 'It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends upon his not understanding it!' - Upton Sinclair. Somehow, conservatives need to be persuaded that doing so aligns with their long-term interests and will lead to material betterment. However, I am not hugely optimistic about this.

The Cultural Divide

The question of conservative distrust in scientific consensus presumes that such distrust is based on ignorance or mistakes in reasoning. This is essentially the 'deficit model' of science communication, which suggests providing more information will fix the issue. However, this approach has been shown to be ineffective. See, for example, The case for a deficit model of science communication and Why Everything You Know About Science Communications is Wrong and More Science is the Answer.

Conservative opposition to many branches of science, including Evolutionism, has been part of the American conservative identity for decades. Attempts to change this through education and information have largely failed. This is not a simple information problem, but a cultural one. Cultural changes can be profound and take a significant crisis to shift.

Related Insights

To gain more insights into bridging the scientific consensus with conservatives, here are a few related answers from Zen Faulkess:

With the evidence for evolution so overwhelming and undeniable, how can anyone remain so tragically ignorant that they still believe in Creationism?

Is the reason why conspiracy theories like the Earth being flat and the moon landing being fake exist because scientists have failed to properly educate the public?

Scientific illiteracy is humanity's greatest threat. How can we move forward when so many don't understand basic scientific principles?

In conclusion, persuading conservatives to trust scientific consensus requires acknowledging the underlying cultural divide and recognizing that changing deeply ingrained beliefs and identities is a long-term process. Nonetheless, continued dialogue, evidence-based arguments, and a nuanced approach are essential.