Marylin Maeso, professor of philosophy, explained on Europe 1 Saturday why she is not convinced by the words of Professor Didier Raoult, famous infectiologist extolling the merits of chloroquine in the fight against Covid-19. 

INTERVIEW

What should we think of Doctor Didier Raoult, a fervent defender of the use of chloroquine as a treatment for Covid-19? Invited on Europe 1 Saturday, Marylin Maeso, professor of philosophy and specialist of Albert Camus explains why according to her, we must be wary of this controversial infectious disease specialist. 

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Scientist or politician? 

For Marylin Maeso, Didier Raoult thus flirts between politics and scientific demonstration during this Covid-19 crisis. "He may be a virologist, in my opinion, he did not act as a virologist or as a doctor in this crisis," she explains.

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She describes a "very intelligent" man who "seduced the populists" as "Jean-Luc Mélenchon who supported him or even Marine Le Pen who took the opportunity to discredit the Scientific Council". This support would serve him to strengthen his credibility with the population, says the philosopher. "The populists have had a lot of fun using it to make it the symbol of a people in revolt against the system and the corrupt elites," she said. 

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She also recalls that an Odoxa poll dated March 27 ranks her "among the favorite political figures of the French". An observation that pushes Marylin Maeson to call for caution regarding the words of Didier Raoult. "You cannot be both a scientist and a politician, as Max Weber would say. These are two attitudes which are different, which obey different rules and goals," she denounces. "From the moment we try to mix them, it gives this kind of cacophony that we could see with the Raoult buzz". 

A buzz specialist

Marylin Maeso also believes that Didier Raoult has devised communication methods to get people talking. "For example, he delivered the results of his study upstream of any scientific publication to an American lawyer, Gregory Rigano, and to an ophthalmologist, James Todaro, who broadcast them on American channels," she said.

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According to her, the infectious disease specialist also exploits social networks. "Didier Raoult played a lot especially on Youtube with this communication by the buzz which parasites the rigorous work of scientists and which sows confusion in the minds", specifies Marylin Maeso, who registers Didier Raoult in a "sort of battle of visibility leaves to disinform ". 

Uncertainties around chloroquine removed 

The philosopher is also worried about the absence of doubts expressed by Didier Raoult about chloroquine. "He seems to have forgotten the main teaching of philosophy: the sense of modesty and the ability to recognize one's ignorance," she points out. "It completely ignores the uncertainty that continues to weigh on the situation and on this virus."

For Marylin Maeso, Didier Raoult goes even further by ignoring the opposing opinions. "Rather than listening to the criticism that was made of this study, he said that his critics just didn't want to understand that he was right," said the philosopher. "We are in the register of the controversy that goes against any healthy scientific debate."

A character who feeds conspiracy theories  

Thanks to this behavior, Didier Raoult has thus become popular with followers of conspiracy theories, according to Marylin Maeso. "He really replayed the plot-compatible scenario of the renegade who is alone against a system that would like to hide the truth to prevent it from overcoming evil," she summarizes. 

She describes in particular on the "reasoning of her supporters". "His treatment works, he has proven it, his treatment is not expensive so why not prescribe it en masse? There is necessarily a hidden bad intention: it is because it does not serve the great interests of the pharmaceutical groups neither those of the state, nor those of the scientific community, "she taunts. 

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According to Marylin Maeso, it is therefore not surprising that Didier Raoult has become a figure in conspiracy theories. "Conspiracy is fueled by fears and worries but also by the desire to find culprits for the problems we face. The Covid-19 crisis is really the ideal breeding ground," she analyzes. "These are terrifying theories that thrive in a context where people panic, are afraid of getting sick and dying."