1984 (11): The End Of Science

"In Oceania at the present day, Science, in the old sense, has almost ceased to exist. In Newspeak there is no word for 'Science'. The empirical method of thought, on which all the scientific achievements of the past were founded, is opposed to the most fundamental principles of Ingsoc. And even technological progress only happens when its products can in some way be used for the diminution of human liberty... But in matters of vital importance - meaning in effect, war and police espionage - the empirical approach is still encouraged, or at least tolerated..." (George Orwell, '1984').

This is triggered by DK's post about some bastard MP who said "Global warming deniers have undermined well-founded public alarm on Global Warming. Panic is our only hope... Today's Observer poll suggests that six out ten Britons are not convinced that global warming is the supremely vital issue. The public fear must be cranked up again."

Trixy comments: "I am reading 1984 so I can find out which chapter the government are on and have an advanced warning of what will happen next.".

Well, there's your answer. 'Science', in the context of Global Cooling, is an instrument to crank up 'public fear' and to give the gummint yet another pretext for controlling and monitoring people's behaviour. Just like The Book* said.

* Strictly speaking, the above quote is from a book-within-a-book, that book in turn is 'The Theory And Practice Of Oligarchal Collectivism' by Emmanuel Goldstein, which is in turn ghost-written by senior Party member O'Brien. But hey.