# Are some scientific theories so harmful they should be suppressed? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [November 28, 2020, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-some-scientific-theories-so-harmful-they-should-be-suppressed/926672 "2020-11-28T14:20:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2020, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-some-scientific-theories-so-harmful-they-should-be-suppressed/926672/21 "2020-11-28T20:29:58Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Hopefully this is also not yet another thread for hand-wringing over cancel culture and the PC Popo. Wanna bet? ---
**Author:** ![DemonTree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/demontree/32/8646_2.png) [@DemonTree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DemonTree)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2020, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-some-scientific-theories-so-harmful-they-should-be-suppressed/926672/22 "2020-11-28T20:40:18Z")
Please could everyone stick to the topic if you’re going to post… ---
**Author:** ![DemonTree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/demontree/32/8646_2.png) [@DemonTree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DemonTree)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2020, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-some-scientific-theories-so-harmful-they-should-be-suppressed/926672/23 "2020-11-28T20:40:37Z")
> [@BippityBoppityBoo](#): > > Popo=police. Political Correctness police. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2020, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-some-scientific-theories-so-harmful-they-should-be-suppressed/926672/24 "2020-11-28T21:06:19Z")
> [@DemonTree](#): > > Please could everyone stick to the topic if you’re going to post… Sure thing. What is the best example you can think of that shows what you are talking about? ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2020, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-some-scientific-theories-so-harmful-they-should-be-suppressed/926672/25 "2020-11-28T21:14:53Z")
You want to talk about ‘science’ and you start with this? > [@DemonTree](#): > > I’m talking about scientific theories that could be true or false {…} So, we need to start with teaching, yet again, what ‘theory’ means in science? ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2020, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-some-scientific-theories-so-harmful-they-should-be-suppressed/926672/26 "2020-11-28T21:20:12Z")
I think you have to start by carefully distinguishing between science and technologies. Scientific theories aren’t harmful; technologies can be. There is an ongoing discussion of gene editing technologies. No sane person can deny the science, but many are concerned about deployment. Same for any weapon technology. Here is a tricky one. Is it nature or nurture (used in a very broad sense to include all life’s experiences) that results in a higher percentage of female biologists than female mathematicians? The results are potentially interesting, but I cannot think of any way of testing either hypothesis. But even so, what follows from settling the question? Let us suppose, for sake of argument, that it turns out to be nature. What should follow? Does it mean that girls should be discouraged from studying math? Of course not–there are some superb women mathematicians I’ve known. Does it mean that women should be encouraged to study math? I don’t think so, but you might disagree. On the other hand, should it turn out to be nurture (girls discouraged, not enough role models, whatever) that could be an important discovery. ---
**Author:** ![raventhief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raventhief/32/4_2.png) [@raventhief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raventhief)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2020, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-some-scientific-theories-so-harmful-they-should-be-suppressed/926672/27 "2020-11-28T22:14:55Z")
_ **Moderating** _ Let’s knock off telling people what they can and can’t post (like telling people to stick to the topic if they are going to post.) If you want curb a particular hijack, please report the post. Just a note, no warning issued. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2020, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-some-scientific-theories-so-harmful-they-should-be-suppressed/926672/28 "2020-11-29T00:40:39Z")
> [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](#): > > your examples [. . .] are not examples of theories that haven’t already become harmful, One of the examples given is evolution. Considering that modern biological sciences including medicine are based on it, I have difficulty seeing it as being harmful. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2020, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-some-scientific-theories-so-harmful-they-should-be-suppressed/926672/29 "2020-11-29T00:45:09Z")
One of the most commonly-touted controversial scientific theories is the one linking race and IQ. You have people claiming that certain races have higher average IQ scores and others have lower average IQ scores, and that there is a genetic factor at play. (AIUI, such scientists typically **don’t** deny that many other elements like nutrition, upbringing, or the methods use to test IQ itself etc. also have an effect on IQ scores as well; they are arguing that race is **one** of the factors.) Suppose that such a scientific theory - offensive though it may be - were actually proven to be true. What would be the implications? It might lead to a lot of discrimination. Perhaps there would have to be much stronger anti-racial-discrimination laws passed as a result. ---
**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Chitwood)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2020, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-some-scientific-theories-so-harmful-they-should-be-suppressed/926672/30 "2020-11-29T01:11:46Z")
I was explicit about the fact that I was talking about his gender and culture examples. ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2020, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-some-scientific-theories-so-harmful-they-should-be-suppressed/926672/31 "2020-11-29T01:18:51Z")
> [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > But even so, what follows from settling the question? Let us suppose, for sake of argument, that it turns out to be nature. What should follow? Does it mean that girls should be discouraged from studying math? Of course not–there are some superb women mathematicians I’ve known. Does it mean that women should be encouraged to study math? I don’t think so, but you might disagree. On the other hand, should it turn out to be nurture (girls discouraged, not enough role models, whatever) that could be an important discovery. The number one thing that should _logically_ follow from women and men having serious innate biological differences, is that we should immediately implement 50% quotas for male and female elected officials. Clearly, if there are serious enough biological differences to make a difference to anything, this means that women can’t fully be democratically represented by a male-majority deliberative body, and vice versa ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2020, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-some-scientific-theories-so-harmful-they-should-be-suppressed/926672/32 "2020-11-29T01:21:49Z")
[portion deleted to avoid getting further into worn-to-death topic] > [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](#): > > I was explicit about the fact that I was talking about his gender and culture examples You only addressed those; but you said “your examples” in a way that read to me as if it were meant to include all of them. Thanks for clarification. I’d like the OP to address the evolution one specifically. @DemonTree, are you saying that acknowledging evolution does societal harm, and if so, how? ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2020, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-some-scientific-theories-so-harmful-they-should-be-suppressed/926672/33 "2020-11-29T03:22:50Z")
No. Science shouldn’t be suppressed for politics or feelings. ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2020, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-some-scientific-theories-so-harmful-they-should-be-suppressed/926672/34 "2020-11-29T03:25:33Z")
If it’s primarily nature then differences in distributions wouldn’t be solely or perhaps even largely a function of power structures or societal flaws. ---
**Author:** ![Deeg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deeg/32/2955_2.png) [@Deeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deeg)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2020, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-some-scientific-theories-so-harmful-they-should-be-suppressed/926672/35 "2020-11-29T04:40:20Z")
How about the Dickey Amendment, which pragmatically prevented the CDC from investigating gun violence because it might be used to push for gun control. ---
**Author:** ![GreenWyvern](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/greenwyvern/32/2834_2.png) [@GreenWyvern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenWyvern)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2020, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-some-scientific-theories-so-harmful-they-should-be-suppressed/926672/36 "2020-11-29T04:42:41Z")
The OP seems reluctant to clarify what she has in mind when she talks of evolution. My guess is that she means Social Darwinism, a theory that can hardly be called scientific, and is very far from being shown to be true. ---
**Author:** ![DemonTree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/demontree/32/8646_2.png) [@DemonTree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DemonTree)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2020, 8:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-some-scientific-theories-so-harmful-they-should-be-suppressed/926672/37 "2020-11-29T08:50:52Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > I’d like the OP to address the evolution one specifically. @DemonTree, are you saying that acknowledging evolution does societal harm, and if so, how? No, I’m saying I think some people believe that it does. Primarily religious people who think (correctly IMHO) that it encourages atheism, which in their view leads to a less moral society. The Dickey amendment mentioned by @Deeg also sounds like an example on the right, though maybe that’s less ‘harm to society’ and more ‘harm to people who like owning guns’. I don’t think the porn example fits, since there’s nothing to investigate separate to whether it causes harm. > [@GreenWyvern](#): > > The OP seems reluctant to clarify what she has in mind when she talks of evolution. > > My guess is that she means Social Darwinism, a theory that can hardly be called scientific, and is very far from being shown to be true. Jeez, give me chance. I’ve gotta sleep some time… See above for what I meant, but eugenics arose from Darwin’s theory of evolution and, while it is surely true in principle that humans could be bred to have certain characteristics, it wouldn’t be moral to try, and the idea has definitely harmed people in the past. > [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > I think you have to start by carefully distinguishing between science and technologies. Scientific theories aren’t harmful; technologies can be. There is an ongoing discussion of gene editing technologies. No sane person can deny the science, but many are concerned about deployment. Same for any weapon technology. Eugenics is an example of a scientific theory that has caused harm, though I don’t think you can say that the versions as applied were correct. Theories can harm people when laws are made based on them. ---
**Author:** ![DemonTree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/demontree/32/8646_2.png) [@DemonTree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DemonTree)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2020, 8:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-some-scientific-theories-so-harmful-they-should-be-suppressed/926672/38 "2020-11-29T08:59:44Z")
> [@Aspidistra](#): > > The number one thing that should _logically_ follow from women and men having serious innate biological differences, is that we should immediately implement 50% quotas for male and female elected officials. Clearly, if there are serious enough biological differences to make a difference to anything, this means that women can’t fully be democratically represented by a male-majority deliberative body, and vice versa I’m not sure it matters whether differences are innate or not. We should be encouraging (or enforcing) all kinds of diversity in our political representatives in any case, to help make sure all groups have their issues understood and interests represented. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2020, 9:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-some-scientific-theories-so-harmful-they-should-be-suppressed/926672/39 "2020-11-29T09:01:46Z")
> [@DemonTree](#): > > Eugenics is an example of a scientific theory {…} Eugenics is a scientific theory . . . I learn something new every day. ---
**Author:** ![DemonTree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/demontree/32/8646_2.png) [@DemonTree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DemonTree)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2020, 9:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-some-scientific-theories-so-harmful-they-should-be-suppressed/926672/40 "2020-11-29T09:04:51Z")
> [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > Eugenics is a scientific theory . . . I learn something new every day. AIUI the basic principle is correct. The various incarnations were largely bullshit and very harmful bullshit. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-some-scientific-theories-so-harmful-they-should-be-suppressed/926672.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-some-scientific-theories-so-harmful-they-should-be-suppressed/926672.md?page=3)