February 18

It's OK Harmon questions, but his evidence is weak

Letter to the Editor

A letter to the editor about global warming criticizing M.D. Harmon for submitting evidence questioning the majority opinion that global warming is taking place asserts "scientific truth isn't decided by majority vote."

Actually it is, however. The core principle of scientific verification is that an observation that's been made by one observer can be confirmed by another observer. Another principle is that when the observation has been made, it can be replicated repeatedly.

The more observations we have that agree with one another, the more confident we are of the "truth." But if we have even one replicable observation that disagrees, we have to explain it or begin to question our hypothesis.

It is entirely legitimate for Harmon and others to question global warming. Such continuous questioning is how we learn. The problem with Harmon is not that he questions, but that his evidence is weak when compared to the larger body of evidence.

David Doreau

Waterville

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