Why might a society aim to justify existing social norms with faulty science?
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Why might a society aim to justify existing social norms with faulty science?

Social norms are part of the social structure and are associated with political, economical, and scientific ideas of the time.

Science might seem as inherently objective, however, it´s also a human development influenced by the ideas of the time.

Explanation:

For example, the expansion of the slavery system brought many theories, today recognized as faulty science, that justified slavery by correlating physical features, behaviors, and legal rights, and magnifying the differences between races, especially between blacks and whites, in agreement with the idea of slaves not being considered as humans.

paine is arguying that they had tried everything before coming to the conclusion that they needed to fight for their freedom.

argument: "every quiet method for peace hath been ineffectual."

claim 1: "our prayers have been rejected with disdain; and only tended to convince us, that nothing flatters vanity, or confirms obstinacy in kings more than repeated petitioning and nothing hath contributed more than that very measure to make the kings of europe absolute."

claim 2: "wherefore, since nothing but blows will do, for god’s sake, let us come to a final separation, and not leave the next generation to be cutting throats, under the violated unmeaning names of parent and child."

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