TIROLER TAGESZEITUNG "Editorial" edition of August 29, 2023, by Wolfgang Sablatnig: "Educational mandate and alarm bells"

2023-08-28 20:00:31

Innsbruck, Vienna (OTS) – Skepticism about science often goes hand in hand with criticism of how democracy works. It becomes dangerous when a political party like the Freedom Party fuels both.

Apparently it’s not that bad. It is true that science in the country of Austria meets with proper rejection. This is not lower on average in other European countries, according to current results from the Institute for Advanced Studies (IHS).
Nevertheless, what the experts at the IHS found out on behalf of Education Minister Martin Polaschek (ÖVP) is worrying enough. They estimate the hard core of science skeptics to be ten percent of the population. These contradict the scientific consensus in at least three out of four central statements such as climate change.
Equally questionable is the connection between skepticism about science and reservations about democracy. Together it is then about a comprehensive rejection of existing political conditions, it is said.
However, this finding is not entirely new. A still valid answer is education, education and more education. It’s not about forcing an opinion on anyone. But people should be able to see for themselves what is plausible and what is not.
That is exhausting. Distinguishing the so-called experts from the real experts is not that easy. It’s easier to quickly click on a seductive posting in a social network.
How can it still be done? If something seems too sensational and unusual, that alone should make you suspicious. Healthy skepticism is necessary.
It becomes worrying when it turns into blind trust in apparently spectacular findings – which are particularly spectacular because they are supposed to be suppressed by the “system”. Corona fueled this world view, also because too little was explained.
This is where reservations about democracy and society meet with skepticism about science. At this point at the latest, all alarm bells should be ringing. The Liberal General Secretary Michael Schnedlitz announces an election campaign against the “self-appointed elites”. Party leader Herbert Kickl doubts the scientific nature of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and devalues it as a “congregation for the faith”. And her fans share this kind of view thousands of times online.
Instead of understanding and understanding, rejection and division are pursued. But ditches are quickly torn open. Bridging them is much more difficult. Just like the serious examination of science and democracy.