Viewpoint: COVID lab leak? Misguided backers of the lab leak theory refused to give up
geneticliteracyproject.org
When a fringe theory survives repeated debunking, it's not about evidence — it's a masterclass in motivated reasoning and how belief persists against scientific consensus.
Motivated ReasoningConfirmation BiasEpistemic ClosureSociology of Scientific Knowledge
Theory Briefing
- Lord Matt Ridley was invited to speak at the NIH about COVID origins, alarming critics of the lab leak theory.
- The article frames lab leak proponents as 'misguided,' suggesting motivated reasoning drove their persistence despite mainstream scientific skepticism.
- The debate over COVID's origins reveals how confirmation bias and identity-driven belief can outlast official consensus.