How do we know what we know is true? The answer hinges on desire. We tend to see what we desire to see; therefore, much depends on the extent of our desires. The more we desire, the less we know. Unless all we wish to know, are only our desires. This doesn’t happen naturally though. We are biologically primed to feel that what we perceive ‘out there’ is truly how it is, and that we can realize our desires. In other words, we seldom feel content with just feeling the desire; we also need our desires fulfilled.
So, how does this relate to our serious global warming issue? The strength of science lies in a commitment to eliminate as much subjective desire as possible, and merely see and understand things as they are. Even so, we still end up interpreting what we see within science in ways that conform to our desires. Chapter 16 advises, Woe to him who willfully innovates, while ignorant of the constant. Neither science or religion, or anything in between, are capable of a superseding commitment to the constant. If we were, there would be no global warming!