2) in a socially acceptable way (in other words, says what society "knows" is right, and we know from history how "right" society was historically. We consider ourselves, of course, as uniquely right. Just like every other society did, except they were wrong about it)
3) in a simple enough way for idiots to understand, without nuance
4) without criticizing the people involved in making or executing the decision
And people will happily publish, support and even base legislation on bullshit if it upholds the above requirements.
Needless to say, actual science does not follow any such principles. Plenty of questions aren't resolved, or can only be resolved when oversimplified. There is plenty of "antisocial" science. E.g. average racial and sexual differences in intelligence are real, and known to be at least in part biological. Stating that while there are more intelligent women than men in a random group of 100 of each, but that the smartest and dumbest individuals in the group are still almost always men is not accepted. Or stating that an abused child (whether it's bad parents, bad schools, bad environment or kidnapping) will very likely become an abuser themselves and helping this child will likely make it worse is not accepted. And we all know what happens when one points out that a politician has made a 180 without the science changing.
1) resolves every question
2) in a socially acceptable way (in other words, says what society "knows" is right, and we know from history how "right" society was historically. We consider ourselves, of course, as uniquely right. Just like every other society did, except they were wrong about it)
3) in a simple enough way for idiots to understand, without nuance
4) without criticizing the people involved in making or executing the decision
And people will happily publish, support and even base legislation on bullshit if it upholds the above requirements.
Needless to say, actual science does not follow any such principles. Plenty of questions aren't resolved, or can only be resolved when oversimplified. There is plenty of "antisocial" science. E.g. average racial and sexual differences in intelligence are real, and known to be at least in part biological. Stating that while there are more intelligent women than men in a random group of 100 of each, but that the smartest and dumbest individuals in the group are still almost always men is not accepted. Or stating that an abused child (whether it's bad parents, bad schools, bad environment or kidnapping) will very likely become an abuser themselves and helping this child will likely make it worse is not accepted. And we all know what happens when one points out that a politician has made a 180 without the science changing.