FD Day 7: Denialism

Here's a video to share, or click here to watch it from TED's website. (Chean I think you'd find it interesting, given that you'd like to invent a superfood pill! ;) Let me know what you think!)

So which group do you fall into--the group that opposes genetically engineered food aka 'Frankenfood', or the enthusiastic bunch who are excited about the potential it holds to solve world hunger? Are you one of those who'd go for the alternative medicine, dietary pills, and nutritional supplements and frown upon scientifically proven cure?

Me, I don't mind genetically engineered food really, as long as it's not too crazy. If it's possible to "add value" to the food that we're already eating anyway, then why not? Say, for instance, tomatoes, carrots or potatoes - if they can incorporate multivitamins in it, and it's essentially the same thing, looks the same and tastes the same, then what's so wrong with that? Some people don't have the geographical advantage to grow everything, and they have been surviving on only a certain type of food, thus causing them to be malnourished. World hunger is a real problem that many are not aware of or don't care about - who cares when it doesn't affect them right?! Well not... yet! In the future when food shortage become a more severe problem, people will start to worry.

Michael Specter, as you can tell from his speech, is really enthusiastic and hopeful that science and help solve a lot of world problems, and in this video he cited a lot on food issues, and touched on world health issues and vaccinations as well. Clearly he frowns upon those who fear scientific advancement and resist it, and he used some extreme examples to prove his points. While I don't disagree that some people are illogical and unreasonable to resist science, I do believe there are limitations to what science can contribute to mankind, and that if it's not used for good intentions, science has the ability to unleash the monstrosity within us.

In any case, I think, beyond what he was trying to say, the problem lies in that it's not so much the "denialism of science" as it is "denialism" itself. People do that all that time, they deny things that they don't want to know or believe. It's easier to push new ideas away than it is to evaluate them and decide if they are acceptable. Everyone prefers to stick to old ways than to embrace novelties or changes. To quote him, "Denialism is a virus, and viruses are contagious." How true. And it's true in all instances, not just in science. And it's most insidious when influential people (think: politicians) exercise denialism.

But why did I go off tangent again? I meant to just comment on the Frankenfood idea. It's be cool to just have mashed potatoes and get all the nutrients from it, no? I'm not too sure about having a pill that works as a meal though - even if it has all the nutrition I need. That'd defeat the purpose of cooking and eating, and all the fun that comes with! No thank you, give me my cookies and cheesecakes anytime! :P

Food list of the previous day:

- fried bee hoon, coffee

- 1.5 spoonfuls of peanut butter 

- fruit crisps, French vanilla coffee
- pizza, croutons