Friday, February 24, 2006

What to Do About Inconvenient Facts?

"The great tragedy of Science -- the slaying of a beautiful hypothesis by an ugly fact."
-- Thomas Huxley

So begins an article today in TSC Daily, Eating Some Crow on Fat, by John Luik.

The attitude of we-know-best-no-matter-what-the-studies-say discredits both the scientific process and the requirement that health advice be evidence-based. It risks turning off a population already weary and wary of the lifestyle solutions offered up by the medical community. And it ignores a fundamental responsibility that attaches to providing risk advice: If the science changes, amend your advice. To do otherwise changes the enterprise from advice-giving to propaganda-making. However beautiful the hypothesis, the "ugly" facts are always preferable.

It's one of those articles you have to read - no need for analysis from me!

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