Eli5: Why is there such a negative response to controversial topics in science, wasn’t the existence of “atoms” extremely controversial back in the days as well?

Question

Shouldn’t people research and discuss topics in a calm and rational manner instead of some sort of “you vs me” type of mentality?

In: 1

Answer 1

The greater the distance of the scientific discipline from physics, the more controversial the science. Because as complexity and abstraction increases, so does doubt. But also the closer it gets to human affairs.