Holder on Science Decision Making

I found the following report of an exchange in the confirmation hearing of the new White House Science Advisor:

Rockefeller then asked how divergent views should be resolved in
areas such as climate change. Holdren's reply indicates how he will
approach such issues, as well as his position on climate change:

". . . there is always, has always been, always will be diversity of
opinion among scientists about any complicated issue. Scientists are
as diverse a group as any other you will find, and people come to
different conclusions about how to interpret the same data. This is
routine.

"My position would be that in matters of public policy, policymakers
should bet with the odds. You look at the range of scientific
opinion. You look at the center of gravity of that scientific
opinion. You look at what the bodies that have accumulated the most
expert knowledge and brought it to bear on the question have to say.
And while you can never conclude that any particular interpretation
in science is final. All science is contingent. It could change
with new information, new data, new observations, new analysis. But
if you're making policy, it is wise, in my judgment, to go with the
opinion of the bulk of the part of the scientific community that has
studied that particular question.

Comment: What an unfortunate quote!

In the search for knowledge, one might well choose to accept as probably true the most likely alternatine.

If you are making decisions that involve the interpretation of scientific data, one probably should "bet" based on the costs and benefits of the alternative interpretations as well as their likelihood. JAD