Lies, Damned Lies, and Science: How to Sort through the Noise around Global Warming, the Latest Health Claims, and Other Scientific Controversies

3Decisions, decisions: elucidate all the pros and cons of a decision

We have the tendency to think of things in black and white. It’s good or it’s bad. You’re with me or against me. It’s all or nothing. Sound bites in the media and oversimplified perspectives presented by many other stakeholders often reinforce the idea that issues can be broken down into simple dichotomies. But in reality, whether science, politics, or personal relations, most issues have shades of gray and even brilliant splashes of color. Complexity and nuance are the norm, not the exception.

Even a seemingly simple decision such as choosing whether to go to a party has a list of pros and cons, or tradeoffs, associated with it. I might not get home until late, and ...