Examples of Assertive Ignorance
The following examples of assertive ignorance are given by The Independent as coming under the designation “bumble-puppy,” which, as that journal says, is a “needed word.” The literature of “science falsely so called” affords many such. The first, which is credited to Grant Allen, is this: “Life . . . is due essentially to the secondary action of radiated solar energy intercepted on the moist outer crust of a cooling and revolving planet.” As nobody knows or can know from observation anything about the effect, primary or secondary, of radiated solar energy “intercepted on the moist outer crust of a cooling and revolving planet,” such assertions can be put forth without fear of scientific disproof; otherwise their authors would not dare risk their reputation in such a way. The vagueness and obscurity of their definitions and ideas lend to their statements an appearance of deep wisdom, and their baseless theories are accepted by many as demonstrations. Another example is the following definition of life given by Carl Snyder: “Physiology’s present answer to the old riddle is very simple—Life is a series of fermentations.” Such “definitions” add absolutely nothing to any one’s knowledge of the things to which they are applied; they are capable only of detracting from the knowledge that is given to mankind through divine revelation.