Even while rejecting the authority of the most comprehensive and reviewed scientific document on any subject, namely the IPCC report, one of the most common climate delusionist tactics is the argument from authority. Whether it is Alexander Cockburn responding to George Monbiot or some anonymous person on some blog, everyone has some personal “scientist” friend who assures them the rest of the world has gone mad.
When an argument from authority is invoked it is perfectly legitimate to then examine said authority’s, um … authority, to see if there is really a good reason we should take their word over the word of … well, just about everybody who would know.
I recently received notice of an excellent article about one such often-cited skeptic, the French geophysicist Claude Allegre. The article is here, is remarkably well referenced, and is written in a civil and engaging style — it is so important to write about these people with respect, even if they rarely deserve it! Kudos to the author, whose screen name is “wacki” here on Gristmill. His main site is Logical Science.
I poked around a little and saw he has similar articles on Bob Carter, Bill Gray, Richard Lindzen, Bjorn Lomborg, Patrick Michaels, and a few others. And judging from the listing on an unlinked “contents” page (so I will keep it under my hat for now), a great deal more will come!
Go read his excellent work!
