For example, a cancer researcher who is addicted to cigarettes may say such things as "I can quit anytime I want to."
Science denialism happens when people argue that established scientific laws/theories are wrong based on their subjective ideology or subjective personal beliefs and preferences.
Science denialism can also be seen through a person's irrational/hypocritical behavior where they know their behavior is harmful to themselves or others and that the scientific evidence indicates this, yet they engage in such behavior. For example, a cancer researcher who smokes or an obese/overweight medical doctor with unhealthy eating habits.
Science deniers often give weak rationalizations for their irrational statements and/or behaviors. For example, a cancer researcher who is addicted to cigarettes may say such things as "I can quit anytime I want to."
Examples of science denialism
RationalWiki is a politically left-leaning website that skews towards atheism/agnosticism in terms of its worldview. RationalWiki's main page purports that the purpose of the website is "Analyzing and refuting pseudoscience and the anti-science movement" and "Documenting the full range of crank ideas".[1]
- In 2023, RationalWiki Moderator User: Spud, who is on the board of directors of the Rational Media Foundation, asked people to eat ultra-processed/processed/junk food despite the evidence that such food is unhealthy according to a vast collection of medical scientific evidence and that it has likely harmed a great number of people (See: Rational Media Board of Director and RationalWiki Moderater User: Spud and ultra-processed/unhealthy/junk food and Consumption of ultra-processed foods and health risks).
- Trent Toulouse is one of the founders of RationalWiki.[2] He is also one of the board of trustees of the RationalMedia Foundation.[3] A picture of an obese Trent Toulouse can be found HERE and HERE. According to medical science, obesity is a health risk (See: Health risks linked to obesity and Atheism and obesity).
- RationalWiki admin Ace McWicked on flouting medical science by living an unhealthy lifestyle which could reduce his longevity and/or cause chronic diseases: "I'm in the office and fee like I am having a heart attack. Pretty sure I walked too quickly while doing an overview of the work-site and smoked too heavily in the process. Or maybe it was the lashings of Jagermeister and mac'n'cheese I had for dinner. Either way not much changes with ol' Ace. Being in my early 40's now I don't feel the need to make any lifestyle changes anymore. I'll just the age happen and see how long I last. I reckon I have another 20 years left." - Ace McWicked, May 8, 2023[4] See also: Atheism and life expectancy and Atheism and smoking and Atheism and alcoholism and Macaroni and cheese, processed food, and health risks and Consumption of ultra-processed foods and health risks