epistemic closure

So, a mini-battle about epistemic closure has emerged on the conservative side of our political conversation.  Essentially, some conservative pundits--most notably Ross Douthat--have been arguing for an increased willingness among conservative thinkers to self correct, to call bad arguments and fallacious statements among their own as well as among liberals.  The idea is that conservative thinkers--all thinkers really--need to hone their ideas through rigorous debate between and among others.  Epistemic closure occurs when everyone nods and goes along with ridiculous arguments for the sake of supporting an overarching ideological movement.

Taking up the gantlet, as it were, is Jim Manzi at the NRO's the Corner.  He essentially fisks Mark Levin's chapter in Liberty and Tyranny on global warming.  It's, well, gloriously sharp, witty, and absolutely skewers Levin's misuse of facts and information.  Well, not everyone else over at the Corner was too terribly pleased to say the least; wagon circling has ensued.  Andrew Sullivan, of course, has all the links.