Such anomalies demonstrate the slipperiness of empiricism. Although many scientific ideas generate conflicting results and suffer from falling effect sizes, they continue to get cited in the textbooks and drive standard medical practice. Why? Because these ideas seem true.
This is a drum I find myself beating quite often nowadays. Â If I was a professional scientist this would be weighing on me constantly. Â Actually, I guess it already does that.
Science (particularly the messy social sciences) has a problem. Â It turns out that we're not really able to figure things out, and that when we think we have, we soon find out we're wrong…and then continue to act like we're right anyway!
Now, don't get me wrong…the scientific method is the most powerful thing humanity has ever created. Â I believe in science. Â However, we've got a lot of work to do with regards to how we practice it. Â Yes, it's the most powerful truth-discovering tool. Â No, it's not as good as it could be.
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