Social constructionism and climate science denial

Abstract

It has been much debated whether epistemic relativism in academia, for instance in the form of social constructivism, the strong programme, deconstructionism, and postmodernism, has paved the way for the recent upsurge in science denial, in particular climate science denial. In order to provide an empirical basis for this discussion, an extensive search of the social science literature was performed. It showed that in the 1990s, climate science was a popular target among academic epistemic relativists. In particular, many STS scholars used it as an allegedly clear example of claims by natural scientists that should be treated as mere social constructions, rather than as reports on the actual state of the natural world. A few connections between social constructivists and corporate science denialism were also uncovered, but the extent of such connections could not be determined. With few exceptions, the stream of criticism of climate science from academic relativists has dwindled since the 1990s. One reason for this seems to be that the contrarian position lost its attraction when it became associated with corporate and right-wing propagandists.

Emergent Realities: Diffracting Barad within a quantum-realist ontology of matter and politics

“…The exponential rise of anthropogenic impacts on the planetary systems, in particular over the last fifty years (Crutzen & Stroemer, 2000), has emphasised the necessity for dialogue between the social and the natural sciences. However, during the crucial decades since the 1980s, the social sciences were strongly influenced by radical social theories which wielded considerable influence over, amongst other things, the early decades of the climate change debate (Hansson, 2020). Significant support was given to climate science denialism by authors from the science and technology studies (STS) field during these times (Hansson, 2020).…”

“…However, during the crucial decades since the 1980s, the social sciences were strongly influenced by radical social theories which wielded considerable influence over, amongst other things, the early decades of the climate change debate (Hansson, 2020). Significant support was given to climate science denialism by authors from the science and technology studies (STS) field during these times (Hansson, 2020). The onto-epistemological relativism promoted by some within the field has often operated in tandem with particular political agendas built on the denial of climate science.…”

“…The onto-epistemological relativism promoted by some within the field has often operated in tandem with particular political agendas built on the denial of climate science. Hansson (2020) comments on the culmination of postmodernist deconstruction of facts, objectivity and expertise in the post-truth world, where truth is no longer sought and found but made to suit political and economic agendas. He cites Bruno Latour's (2004) concerns about the support of climate denial by such scholarship: Why does it burn my tongue to say that global warming is a fact whether you like it or not?…”

Philosophy and Alternative Realities

“…Too often, these doctrines have been portrayed as intellectually respectable standpoints that a rational person may well choose to adopt. There is considerable evidence that the adoption of such ideologies have contributed to the promotion of climate science denial and other dangerous misconceptions (Hansson, 2020). And finally, do we take the research ethics of our own discipline seriously?…”

Misconstrued arguments about cultural theory

“…The reader of Verweij et al, (2022) might get the impression that my article (Hansson, 2020) has cultural theory as a main target. That is not the case.…”