Watch: Neil deGrasse Tyson reveals his grand theory of climate change denialism

People will finally believe the science when they begin to lose their wealth, the "Cosmos" host says

Published June 3, 2014 1:15PM (EDT)

Neil deGrasse Tyson                                          (AP/Frank Micelotta)
Neil deGrasse Tyson (AP/Frank Micelotta)

When "Cosmos" host Neil deGrasse Tyson talks, people listen, which is why it's so exciting that the astrophysicist has been devoting his time in the media spotlight to tearing down the anti-scientific ramblings of climate deniers and creationists. He's at it again in an interview with MSNBC's Chris Hayes, who credits Tyson with helping to send deniers into a fast retreat.

"It has been said that every great, emergent scientific truth goes through three phases," Tyson told Hayes. (A quick Internet search confirms that this has in fact been said -- by Tyson.) "First, people say it can't be true. Second, they say it conflicts with the Bible. Third, they say it's true all along."

So what to do in the meantime? “The evidence will show up when they need more evidence,” Tyson said. “More storms, more coastlines getting lost. People beginning to lose their wealth. People, if they begin to lose their wealth, they change their mind real fast, I’ve found — particularly in a capitalist culture.”

"I don't see people trying to repeal the law of gravity just because they're gaining weight," Tyson mused. "I didn't see people trying to repeal E=MC2 because it somehow conflicted with their political philosophy. These are emergent scientific truths. So I'm disappointed when I look around and I see people cherry-picking the consensus of observation and experiment that has emerged in science."

See that, deniers? Neil deGrasse Tyson is disappointed in you! For shame.

Tyson goes on to explain why the idea of some vast climate scientist conspiracy is absurd, before bringing it all home: "Part of what it is to be in a free country is, you can believe what you want. The problem comes about if you believe what you want and you are responsible for the governance of the nation. I'd like to think that governance is based on objective and verifiable truths. Otherwise, what kind of culture have you created?"

Check out the epic takedown, via MSNBC:


By Lindsay Abrams

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