Professor Fred Singer: Champion of Science, Because Nothing Less than the Truth Was Adequate

Abstract

Professor Fred Singer is a scientist practicing science correctly. He became a leader in society because, in doing that, he ran headlong into groups and governments distorting science for political reasons. As Voltaire said, “It is dangerous to be right in matters on which the established authorities are wrong.” Sadly, few can relate to the courage it takes to pursue the truth and the price Fred paid and continues to pay. I know because I experienced the same vindictive, fallacious personal attacks including law suits apparently designed to silence rather than expose the truth. It was the reason I was so proud and humbled to share a keynote speaker role with Fred at the first Heartland Climate Conference in New York. Before the Heartland lunch Fred asked how I was doing. I told him I received a lawsuit. He immediately identified the lawyer’s name. I was surprised until he explained that he and others had received similar lawsuits from the same person. The revelation hardened my resolve to fight, even though I had surrendered to previous legal threats. Fred has uncovered a changing pattern of science and education that is more disturbing in the long run. Traditionally young people came into education challenging and questioning the prevailing wisdoms. Now most young people enter university fully indoctrinated and accept existing scientific doctrines without question. Challenges to the prevailing wisdoms fell to the older scientists. Those seeking facts, without which science cannot function, are marginalized or confronted by people concerned with dogma. This reflects another very disturbing change in science and society in the last few decades. Farad Manjoo identified the pattern in his book True Enough; Learning to Live in a Post-fact Society. A synopsis explains: