Hollywood superstar Leonardo DiCaprio said last week that an aspiring politician who doesn't believe in science should not be allowed to hold public office — but many on social media were quick to question what "science" DiCaprio is referring to and which scientific facts count.
What did he say?
While speaking at Yale University last week, DiCaprio vilified President Donald Trump from withdrawing the United State from the Paris Agreement on climate change.
According to the Hartford Courant, he said: "We are going to look back at this point in history, and frankly this administration, and certain people are going to be vilified for not taking action. We should not have people in office who do not believe in facts and truths and modern science that are able to manipulate and risk the entire future of this entire generation."
But what is "science?"
To DiCaprio, an ardent liberal and progressive, to "believe in facts and truths and modern science" is to believe that human activity is actively destroying our planet via climate change and global warming.
DiCaprio's science doesn't include all science, however, like the fact that life begins at conception or that humans have only two biological genders. And people were quick to call him on it:
OK, let’s start with with the science of conception. https://t.co/wVIDV04NhW— Dana Loesch (@Dana Loesch) 1506098957.0
So, those that see gender scientifically (biological) and not “relative” to ones feelings shouldn’t be allowed to h… https://t.co/dDZx62aSX3— The Brickhouse (@The Brickhouse) 1506087248.0
Someone should ask Leo when life begins and how many sexes there are! #PartyOfScience
— Joe (@JoeC1776) September 22, 2017
Biology is a science. So lets start with the people who think men and women are biologically the same and that it's… https://t.co/7BHhUSLKh8— Aaron (@Aaron) 1506091979.0
Others thought DiCaprio was being hypocritical because his statement resembled a religious litmus test:
Just a reminder that people like DiCaprio, Nye, et al, aren’t into science, they’re into scientism. They’re a relig… https://t.co/Xm0G3qH7XT— Brandon Morse (@Brandon Morse) 1506091498.0
"Believe in science" is a theological construction. https://t.co/mrKfBposXJ— AmishDude (@AmishDude) 1506091553.0
Someone should tell @LeoDiCaprio science isn't something you believe in, like Santa... people's interpretations of it are another matter.
— Prepper Frog (@TueborFrog) September 22, 2017