Having dinged Yglesias on his evaluation of the character of those who promote The Bell Curve, I should say that I think he gets it pretty much right on intelligent design and Kuhn. In fact I'd go farther than him--as I understand Kuhn's theory, it's not just revolutionary science that leaves anomalies; all science leaves anomalies. (Or, anomalies are discovered in all theories eventually.) But a successful theory is still fruitful at generating new science. Preferably new science that isn't sustained entirely by a foundation with an axe to grind, like the Discovery Institute or The Pioneer Fund.
(The claim isn't that no legitimate science is ever done by someone funded by a foundation with a view on an issue--but if no one else picks it up, there's reason to be suspicious.)
Posted by Matt Weiner at August 28, 2005 02:37 PM