Killer Cells, Invasive Species, Biosecurity: Why the War Metaphor Distorts Science

War metaphors have long been employed in science, ranging from the “War on Cancer” to the “War on Science” itself. These frame devices help draw attention to an issue, and dramatize for the public why a science-related topic might matter, but many scientists have long worried that they ultimately lead to distortion, canvassing over nuance and complexity. In a recent issue of New Scientist, they feature the voices of some of these critics of the “war” metaphor, and link to some useful resources on the long history of its use in science and medicine.