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Ask HN: What does the scientific consensus tells about Covid restrictions?

4 points by eimrine ↗ HN
I want to be a science evangelist, but sometimes my students ask me really difficult questions. For example, if there is a scientific consensus that we should all respect, then how is it that we all faced an explosion of tyranny in 2020 due to medical consensus on the need for vaccinations and other restrictions on freedom?

6 comments

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joshvince
A srangely loaded question. You’re not going to get a straight and accurate answer to such a broad philosophical topic.

Perhaps it’s worth reflecting on whether, in a pandemic, someone’s personal freedoms are incompatible with the means by which a virus can be prevented from spreading. And then, what is “worth” more?

eimrine
> And then, what is “worth” more?

This seems like an art of asking loaded questions in response to loaded questions. How about repeating that sentence after reasonable ^s/someone/everyone/ substitution? I just can not say that to real fellows.

scottwitlin
A more interesting question is: “What did the Covid restrictions tell us about claims of scientific consensus?”
eimrine
I agree with you but I have received my question as an attempt to attack a scientifical consensus per se. My first answer was that it was not scientists who have take off everyone's rights, but I promised to give a better answer later.
brodouevencode
The bigger insight is that even the seemingly most noble of institutions can be bought.
dent9876543
True, but it is surprisingly difficult to ascribe malice to the actions of the individuals in those organisations.

The issue lies is considering the scientific operations of the organisation in isolation. It is naive to presume their scientists have free rein to consider all possible avenues. Likewise the scientists themselves are subject to the dynamics of everyday life. It takes time and clear thinking to eliminate external influences from research. Both are in short supply in an environment of panic and fear.

Consensus was always a social construct, and never a special state of ultimate scientific wisdom. During the panic of covid, many thought that a forced consensus got us ‘close enough’ to the truth. Most people are only now waking up to how wrong and damaging it was.