Posted on 03/16/2014 9:49:07 AM PDT by Kaslin
An assistant philosophy professor at Rochester Institute of Technology has proposed a bold plan to settle the debate on Global Warming. Lawrence Torcello wrote an essay suggesting that scientists who fail to fall in line with global warming alarmists should be charged with criminal negligence, and possibly even be thrown in jail. Nothing screams academic freedom like a little intellectual Fascism. Right?
When it comes to global warming, much of the public remains in denial about a set of facts that the majority of scientists clearly agree on.
Well, Larry (can we call him Larry?), it might surprise you – an assistant professor of philosophy – to learn that science is not a democratic study. Skepticism, opposition, and deviation from the adopted narrative are more responsible for scientific discovery than blind allegiance to any prevailing theory. And, quite frankly, the theory of anthropogenic global warming has been delegitimized by some of its greatest proponents… Most scientists would agree that it becomes increasingly difficult to believe in a theory that has routinely failed to produce any moderately accurate models or predictions. But, of course it gets better:
With such high stakes, an organized campaign funding misinformation ought to be considered criminally negligent.
Laughably, Larry is not talking about East Anglia, Al Gore, or the UN Climate Change Scandal (where a number of scientists were quoted out of context to give the impression of a consensus view on climate change). In fact, while Larry alleges that “deniers” (apparently the word “skeptic” doesn’t have the right amount of stigma attached to it) are engaged in a misinformation campaign, he never once defends the propagandistic efforts of the global-warming-faithful.
Governments, activist groups, well connected CEOs, and elite billionaire Liberals have pushed trillions of dollars into the propagation of global warming fears. And yet, strangely, this assistant philosophy professor seems incapable unwilling to see the irony of his allegations. But, wait… He soon goes for the jugular:
We have good reason to consider the funding of climate denial to be criminally and morally negligent. The charge of criminal and moral negligence ought to extend to all activities of the climate deniers who receive funding as part of a sustained campaign to undermine the public’s understanding of scientific consensus.
Ah… So scientists who dare to question the provably wrong predictions of melted ice caps, winterless years, and raising sea levels should be charged with negligence for “undermining the public’s understanding of scientific consensus”? Well, here’s some scientific consensus for you, Larry:
The world has not seen a measurable increase in temperatures for over 15 years. Arctic ice has increased in mass since 2013. The “Polar Vortex” is part of a broader, and predictable, weather shift that has been happening for thousands of years. “Climate Change” has been occurring, without man-made forces, for every single one of the billions of years this rock has been spinning around the sun.
But, let’s be honest: Larry isn’t really worried about the science (even though I’m sure his studies in philosophy have yielded him great insights into climatology, atmospheric science, and meteorological changes throughout history). He’s worried about opposition to his beliefs. He even acknowledges some of the pushback that his idea might receive:
My argument probably raises an understandable, if misguided, concern regarding free speech.
Misguided? The Left’s intolerance, it seems, has no bounds. A student from Harvard recently argued against academic freedom. Not wanting to be outdone, this assistant professor is now suggesting that political opponents (or for that matter, scientists who don’t tow his ideological ideals) be criminally charged. It is almost stunning how easily the Left will adopt the notion of censorship and intellectual fascism to limit their opposition.
For being an assistant professor of philosophy, Torcello seems stunningly married to an egocentric world view. People who disagree with him, in his mind, are not merely “wrong”… They’re crossing the threshold into criminality. This is a point of view that is growing among the Left. Opponents to the President are racist. Opponents of Nancy Pelosi are sexist. Advocates for traditional marriage are bigots. And, apparently, opponents to the theory of anthropogenic global warming are worthy of a little jail time. This doesn’t seem like positions that lend themselves to any degree of philosophical integrity.
If Larry really wants to help fight global warming, he should keep his totalitarian mouth shut… Currently, he’s spewing too much hot air into the atmosphere.
Torcello = Torquemada
The Climate Change Inquisition has a new enforcer and demands that “deniers” be jailed. How ‘bout we throw in a little torture too? In the new Auto da Fe the deniers will be forced to watch Al Gore speeches 24/7 until they get their minds right.
The Inquisitor Torcello is well qualified, being an Assistant Professor of Philosophy and well schooled in the “Will to Power”.
“Global warming” is the conduit being used by the Left to make the United States a quasi socialist country. The goal is to severely limit free enterprise as well as personal freedom. Rules, regulations, edicts all issued by nameless bureaucrats and commissars in the name of “global warming”.
Even Galileo got off with just house arrest for denying the Ptolemaic version of the solar system.
Of course they have to lie. It comes natural to them. They can’t help it
Global warming is nothing more than a shakedown racket, plain and simple.
It has absolutely nothing to do with science, and eveything to do with the wholesale government and business crony extortion of money from the people and industry. It’s just another tax, and a bar to entry put up to ensure a total energy monopoly by the vested business interests.
In other words, fascism.
A eugenic campaign to rid the world of communism and its Leftist utopian droolers is one somewhat harsh but reasonable correction to restart human progress...
I'd like to pretend I'm just kidding, but after 50 years of listening to Democrat spewed hatred, ditches filled with dead Gorebots seems to be strangely attractive.
To be perfectly honest, assistant professors of philosophy have to do something once they’ve failed to raise outrage over campus parking or the political correctness of the team mascot. I’m guessing there are a few assistant professors of climatology out there who have a better case of jailing this clown for professional negligence than he does for them.
The article says Larry is a professor of philosophy, which of course qualifies him to bloviate on pseudo science. He looks more like a propmaster of porno flicks, which qualifies him to be a fluffer.
the news media and climate scientists predicted the ice caps would be melted by now.WRONG!
Scientists say there was more ice on the ocean then than in any time in recorded satellite history.
Now there's more ice at South Pole than ever (So much for global warming thawing Antarctica!)
So here's the info: 
Lawrence Torcello
Assistant Professor
Phone:585-475-2327
Email: lgtghs@rit.edu
Department of Philosophy
Rochester Institute of Technology
92 Lomb Memorial Drive
Rochester, NY 14623-5604
Lawrence Torcello received his Ph.D. in Philosophy from the University at Buffalo in 2006. His research interests include ethical theory and applied ethics, social and political philosophy, moral pluralism, and skepticism. His current projects investigate the practical consequences and ethical responsibilities implicit to democratic citizenship in morally diverse societies, particularly in the domains of medicine, education, animal welfare, the environment, public policy, and political discourse. Dr. Torcello’s recent work pursues the moral implications of global warming denialism, as well as other forms of science denialism.
“To be perfectly honest, assistant professors of philosophy have to do something once they’ve failed to raise outrage over campus parking or the political correctness of the team mascot.”
I agree. This is a “Hey, look at me” piece. But on the bright side, for him, he can embellish his resume claiming a “published” article.
And in the Seventies Time magazine said it was Global Cooling that was going to destroy all of us in twenty years.
Just another reason to keep a good stock of “B, B, and B”.
On the evidence, he should be fired for rank incompetence and no understanding of academic freedom, whatsoever.
What is the difference between his approach to academic freedom and Stalin’s and Hitler’s.
Snork! Yeah. In a peer-reviewed journal.
Thanks.
That figures, just a clown who couldn’t pass College Algebra trying to make BS extrapolations into dogma.
The return of the Inquisitors.
first the climate scientists and media say “they are scientists so listen to them you little people when scientists say global warming will destroy the planet”. so we little Republicans say “no i have an independent mind and can fact check your ass on the Internet now and i see global warming is a hoax” . so then the scientists like this moron say “jail any who disagree with me”
He’s not a Professor.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.