Originally posted by wolfgang59
Not why would [b]a scientist lie.
But why would the whole scientific community lie?
Of course I'm talking about evolution. Why would scientists in
their pursuit of knowledge lie? What possible motivation is there?[/b]
There are scientists who are honest. But I would not say just because one is a scientist he or she is immune to the need for prestige, winning in competition for honors, envy to be credited, and any other failing of frail mortal humans.
Are there things some scientists would WANT to believe because of metaphysical reasons of their own ? Yes. And some can overcome those preferences and some do not.
Another significant problem is charlatans taking advantage of eager scientists.
I saw a program about a man in South America who constantly fabricates ancient coins and artifacts to sell them to ancient relic hunters. You know he can do so without actually coming out and admitting that what they are buying is a forgery. He is very sneaky and covers his tracks. It is really a "Buyer Beware" situation.
But he has sold considerable amounts of fake artifacts which unwary buyers are deceived into thinking that they are obtaining ancient items from Meso American cultures when they are not.
There are people who realize how eagerly people are searching for proofs of various beliefs and theories - secular and religious. And they have no scruples against fabricating items to sell to the over eager and gullible.
It goes around the whole spectrum of beliefs. Someone
will sell you a fake thing knowing that you are eager to find something verifying what you want to believe.