To: letters@guardian.co.uk
Re: The illusion of scientific rationality and objectivity when personal interests are involved
Date: Thu. 21 August 2003

 

Dear Sir/Madam,

In the GM debate, and all other debates relating to the commercial exploitation of scientific knowledge, we need to remind ourselves that scientists are human, that humans are evolved from animals, that it is still very much our animal nature which determines our perception of the world and our responses to it, and that it is on these that our capitalist, free-market economy is largely based (Safe science is not always good science, 19 August 2003).

If this is kept in mind, it is much easier to understand the confusion which arises when intelligent, well-educated scientists and others use their considerable mental powers to rationalise (usually quite unawares) their more animal than human interests.