In denial about denial - Global Warming advocates and their thoughts
An interesting
post over at Dr. Sanity regarding the compartmentalization of their thoughts regarding anyone who sugests that Global Warming is a hoax:
IN DENIAL ABOUT DENIAL
A reader pointed me to this post which discusses how the eco-fascists of our planet would like to label "denial" about global warming a mental illness.The idea that �climate change denial� is a psychological disorder � the product of a spiteful, wilful or simply in-built neural inability to face up to the catastrophe of global warming � is becoming more and more popular amongst green-leaning activists and academics. And nothing better sums up the elitism and authoritarianism of the environmentalist lobby than its psychologisation of dissent. The labelling of any criticism of the politics of global warming, first as �denial�, and now as evidence of mass psychological instability, is an attempt to write off all critics and sceptics as deranged, and to lay the ground for inevitable authoritarian solutions to the problem of climate change. Historically, only the most illiberal and misanthropic regimes have treated disagreement and debate as signs of mental ill-health.
Before I discuss such tactics (which many on the left accuse me of using), I think some background ideas need to be reviewed.
I frequently use psychiatric and psychological concepts to describe behavior in this blog, and because of that, many people accuse me of labeling anyone who disagrees with me politically as having a mental illness.
This is not true; and it suggests that most of these critics know little about psychiatry, psychiatric diagnoses, or psychological defenses.
While I do believe that some of the people I describe might indeed have a mental illness; and that some are, in fact, perfectly healthy but simply malevolent or evil; it is simply not the case that by exposing certain psychological defense mechanisms that explain their behavior, I am giving the political opposition a medical/psychiatric diagnosis. Nevertheless, if a particular diagnosis fits, I am perfectly content to let them wear it.
Wonderful essay. Well worth reading regardless of what side you are on for the AGW debate.
Posted by DaveH at March 15, 2009 3:38 PM