Thread by @clim8resistance

In post normal science, "science" becomes a performance, a ritual, and an opportunity.

There is precedent for it, as I've wasted decades of my life pointing out.

https://twitter.com/DPJHodges/status/1317732932010770433

Performances: The Whitty and Valance comedy show, featuring Boris Johnson. Matt Hancock putting on his serious face and low voice. All of broadcast news media pretending to be journalists.

Ritual: The obedience expected of us as society is shut down.

Opportunity: some are making a killing. Some have been thrust into the limelight. Others have expanded their empires. All on the back of countless bankruptcies, redundancies, unnecessary deaths, foreclosures & evictions...

"Gosh this is terrible. Let's build back better. Sign right there, thank you. You're mine now."

For those that don't know, post normal science is when "facts are uncertain, values in dispute, stakes high and decisions urgent".

That's why you get Gretas, Guardians and Greenpeaces giving deadlines [urgency] about the end of civilisation [stakes], "denial" demonology and anti-democracy [values], the precautionary principle [uncertainty] and endless modelling [in lieu of facts].

PNS is typically "hacked".

It changes the premises of "science", such that authority speaks louder than quality. It diminishes science as a process and emphasises science as an institution. It politicises science. It is anti-science.

You can see this in full effect when disobedient *actual* scientists speak out of turn against their institutional superiors.

The full force of the state and the "scientific" institutions and media (including big tech) can be turned against them.