Contrarian

A contrarian is a person with a preference for taking a position opposed to that of the majority view prevalent in the group of which they are a part.

In politics and social philosophy
Contrarian styles of argument have historically been associated with radicalism and dissent. However, contemporary critics such as Paul Krugman have argued that, in its modern form, contrarianism presents an appearance of independent thought while failing to challenge, or actually reinforcing, the dominant orthodoxy of the political and media establishment.

Contrarianism in Science
In science, the term "contrarian" is often applied to those who reject a general scientific consensus on some particular issue, as well as to scientists who pursue research strategies which are rejected by most researchers in the field. Contrarians are particularly prominent in cases where scientific evidence bears on political, social or cultural controversies such as disputes over policy responses to climate change, or creationism versus evolution.