Why Did Western Doctors Promote Tobacco While the Nazis Fought Cancer - Essay Example

Robert Proctor is interested in how policies can create ignorance and doubt in the minds of others. He said that science can also be destroyed through this intent of others. This is a common practice as in the case of global warming. Many persons did not admit to its existence and cited lack of proof and not enough research. Proctor linked these persons to established tobacco companies. The idea of creating doubt he says began in the tobacco industries and filtered down to other manufacturing companies.

They all try to lessen the dangers and focus on the advantages of their products. He believes that good science can come from bad ideologies and vice versa. His book “The Nazi War on Cancer” has a good example of good and bad science and good and bad theology. He teaches that historically science can be paralleled to confusion. Although the Nazis were perceived to be crazy they did some amazing science. Another example of good science coming from bad ideology is of the first manned space flight occurred during the Soviet’s reign.

He likes to link history, politics and science. He is interested in human suffering and thinks that people should constantly ask questions. The tobacco industry, in a public relations stint use science to their advantage to defend tobacco smoking. They started their propaganda and doubt campaign in the 1950’s. This is likened to the campaign of the lead industry in the 1920’s. There are three emotional principles that are present in his work namely wonder, sympathy and critique. His two books on Nazi medicine gave the world an opportunity to see them as humans.

On the other hand critiquing is needed to show that not everything is positive and human sufferings still abounds. A part of being human is the ability to trust and one should be excited at what he does.Discoverymagazine.com Why Did Western Drs. Promote Tobacco While the Nazis Fought Cancer?