If increasing temperatures are consistent with or are evidence of global warming, what theory is consistent with or evidence of falling temperatures? Global warming, too? We have to ask this complicated question […]
Theory confirmation and disconfirmation
Time for an incomplete mini-lesson on theory confirmation and disconfirmation. Suppose you have a theory, or model, about how some thing works. That thing might be global warming, stock market prices, stimulating […]
What appeal to authority means and what it doesn’t
This article is meant to be the first is a small series of demonstrations of how not and how to argue for or against climate activism. The level of argumentation on the […]
Models, theories, consistency, and truth
Ready? Put on your best straight face, recall that global temperatures have not increased for a decade, and that it’s actually been getting cooler, then repeat with Brenda Ekwurzel, of the Union […]
What is the environment?
The environment is, of course, something that only you can save. It is something to be preserved. It has a spiritual essence. In hotels anxious to reduce their laundry bill, the environment […]
What can we learn about global warming from poor reporting?
From today’s Syndney Morning Herald comes the headline: “Global warming to impact health“. First, by impact the reporter almost certainly means influence, a more accurate, but far less energetic and “actionable”, word. […]
Prominent philosopher commits global warming fallacy
This post was supposed to be titled, “Conference Report: Day 1,” because I intended to give a blow-by-blow of the American Meteorological Society meeting which started yesterday here in New Orleans. But […]
You’re no climatologist! Or, who is allowed to criticize?
There is a distressing commonality when discussing climate science lately: many people skip past the data and arguments offered by a skeptic and ask the question, “Are you a climatologist?” The implication, […]
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