By Benjamin Lyngdoh
The term ‘agnotology’ is relatively new. It is derived from the Greek word ‘agnosis’ and was initially used in the 1990s by Robert Proctor and Iain Boal and subsequently it first appeared in the book ‘Cancer wars: How politics shapes what we know and don’t know about cancer’. In simple words, agnotology concerns doubt and the ‘manufacturing’ of doubt. If persistent, then this doubt turns into manufactured ignorance. Ultimately, the ignorance leads to unknowledge which is the uncompromising non-acceptability or the non-conformity to an established fact/truth.
However, for the purpose of this column we will simply take agnotology as ‘the study of ignorance’. Now, what makes agnotology (of something/anything) a dangerous percept is that it is based upon ‘scientific data’ and arguments. Here lies the crux of the matter. Once a subject-matter is argued on the basis of scientific data then the argument seems convincing and little do we know that we are in fact victims of ignorance. The same is happening with the hesitation towards acceptance of the Covid-19 vaccine. There is a lot of agnotology perpetuated. As a result, there is doubt and ignorance. Well, it is time to stop it before it turns into a full-blown unknowledge!
Before we move into the specificities relating to Covid-19 vaccination, let us just scan into the original and early practices of agnotology. This will help us in understanding better what we are talking about. In the first case, what is the relationship between smoking and cancer? Does smoking cause cancer? Is there scientific data to this end? Yes, there is! However, the advertising campaigns and propaganda of tobacco companies worldwide create doubt to this effect. In fact, there are studies which debunk the relationship between smoking and cancer. Plus, it is an open secret that the tobacco companies continue to fund scientific research to this effect. This is the agnotology of ‘smoking and cancer’. In the second case, what is the relationship between fossil fuel and climate change? Does the burning of fossil fuel result in climate change and is there scientific data and argument to this end? Yes, there is! However, global oil companies are involved in open propaganda so as to undermine the effects of fossil fuel on climate change. Even today oil companies are known to fund their ‘band of scientist’ towards conducting studies so as to downplay the effects on climate change. This is the agnotology of ‘fossil fuel and climate change’.
Now, the safety/efficacy of Covid-19 vaccines is the contemporary subject-matter of agnotology. Many are skeptical about their credentials. Efficacy comes later; in fact, many doubt its safety. Add to this, the claims of mind-control, impacts on fertility, nano-chip implantation, etc have created paranoia. The thing is all of these claims are harped upon on the basis of scientific data/material. In social media, there are many documents and video clips to this effect. It has to be said that on first reading/viewing some of them do seem very convincing. Plus, they have the ‘time-period to make a vaccine’ as their strongest card and do play it to the hilt. The underlying question is, ‘how can you make a vaccine in a year when in fact it normally takes years just to establish its safety (let alone efficacy)’. This is the major source of all agnotology and the end result is the hesitancy to take the vaccine.
However, there is already an answer to this question (Read Global covid-19 vaccine roll-out: Time to randomize vaccine allocation? The Lancet, 15th May, 2021 and mRNA vaccines: A matter of delivery. EClinicalMedicine, 1st February, 2021 amongst others). These articles underline that the vaccine development technology of today is far advanced than before. Hence, we see the fast development of vaccines. But still, a lot of ignorance is being circulated across media platforms. The end result of it being hesitancy and unwillingness to take the vaccine.
In this cycle of agnotology, the role of people and social media is pre-eminent. Social media is a double-edged sword. If on one hand, it can result in good; on the other, it can be the cause of confusion and chaos. One can only urge people to analyze and think on the media content before sharing and forwarding it further. The fact checking on the content can be helpful. On doing so, one will see the agnotology that is being propagated on Covid-19 vaccines. There is a lot of doubt being manufactured and ignorance being spilled with the objective of derailing the fight against the pandemic. Again, on fact checking one may be surprised at the fake scientific data being used to confuse and spread ignorance. A case in point is the video of Carrie Madej being interviewed by a Sikh person which has been debunked as ‘misinformation’ by reliable medical sources. Moreover, we must learn from countries (like Europe) which have undertaken the Covid-19 vaccination drive seriously. In the last weekend, the sporting events across Europe from football to Formula one witnessed fans/supporters in the stands/stadiums. Well, this is nothing but the outcome of the Covid-19 vaccine. It has slowed down the spread of the virus. It is time for us to learn and replicate!
Another aspect which is related to agnotology is ‘cognitive dissonance’. It is the state of having inconsistent and conflicting thought processes and attitudes when related to behavioral changes. It is a conflict between our belief systems and the behavioral change needed. It results in anxiety, stress and negative perceptions about things/issues (in this case the vaccine). As such, cognitive dissonance is an outcome of agnotology. Now, people normally deal with cognitive dissonance in two ways. First, they just brush the issue under the carpet and pretend that everything is well. Second, they tend to look for information to get a better understanding of the issue. In the case of Covid-19 vaccines, it is the latter at play.
People aggressively look for information on validation/non-validation of the vaccines. It is in such a situation that the machinery of spreading ignorance on the vaccines runs wild. In addition, there is a catch. People who are less convinced to take the vaccine because of their belief systems will always look for and agree to information undermining the vaccine. Similarly, they will easily and readily discount/ignore any scientific information validating the vaccine. This is the real and dangerous side of cognitive dissonance. As a result, the agnotology of Covid-19 vaccination has played havoc in the society.
In the end, there is a lot of work to be done. This is because the scientific spread of ignorance will continue. Yes, the state government can continue with its social marketing campaign on the benefits of the vaccine. However, it will be better if its efforts of convincing people are established with facts from reliable sources. One such source is a journal named ‘The Lancet’. In all the State Government briefings so far, scientific research-based facts from reliable sources are seldom quoted. It is time to start doing so and hope that people will understand. After all, we can fight scientific ignorance only through scientific facts!
(The Author teaches at NEHU; Email: [email protected])