Bill Nye Says The Constitution Supports His Belief Denying Science Is Unpatriotic. But He Didn’t Quote It Correctly.

25 May, 2015 by Jennifer Van Laar

Print this article Font size -16+

Bill Nye the Science Guy has shown his ignorance in non-scientific subjects big time in an interview with Vox Magazine, where he claimed the Constitution backs him in thinking people who deny science are “unpatriotic.” His views were teased in a tweet:

Bill Nye: Denying science is "unpatriotic" http://t.co/xB2qiPtpDk pic.twitter.com/sACNtaPuta

— Vox (@voxdotcom) May 24, 2015

When you have people denying this basic process, and how we all got here, it’s offensive to me intellectually. And I happen to think it’s unpatriotic. Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution says the government shall “promote the progress of science and useful arts.” So if you’re a politician looking to derail the progress of science, I think you’re not doing your job.

But Twitchy noted that the words Nye pulled from Article I, Section 8 are taken way, way out of context.

Here’s what comes after the quote Nye spouted off: “To promote the progress of science and useful arts, by securing for limited times to authors and inventors the exclusive right to their respective writings and discoveries;”

Yup. Nye’s interview text actually linked to the Constitution. Then a simple reading of the quote in context indicates it’s all about what has become American copyright and patent law — and has nothing to do with the Nye’s claim that those who question science are “unpatriotic.”

Wow, that’s quite a thought train, Bill Nye. Maybe you should just stick to science.