Denialism

Denialism is a process that individuals or groups use to ignore, deny, or reject well-established scientific or historical evidence. This process often involves the use of rhetorical tactics to give the appearance of argument or legitimate debate, when in reality there is none.

Overview

Denialism is most commonly associated with controversial issues such as climate change, HIV/AIDS, vaccination, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), and Holocaust denial. It is a significant obstacle to public understanding of these issues and to the implementation of sound policies.

Characteristics

Denialism has several key characteristics. These include the identification of conspiracies, the use of fake experts, the creation of impossible expectations of what research can deliver, the use of misrepresentation and logical fallacies, and the use of false balance in media reporting.

Consequences

The consequences of denialism can be severe. For example, denialism of climate change can delay action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, while denialism of vaccination can lead to outbreaks of preventable diseases.

See also

• Science denial
• Conspiracy theory
• Pseudoscience
• Disinformation
• Misinformation

References

Denialism Resources
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