I think we should be careful about being too critical of society in general for embracing technology, but not the science behind it. People can easily see how technology can have a direct impact on their individual lives, but it's not so obvious how scientific knowledge or the processes through which that knowledge was obtained matters to them. After all, we all enjoy eating the food that farmers produce, but few of us are motivated to learn about current farming practices and theories.

To change this situation, we need to clearly demonstrate the value of being personally familar with the results and methods of science. We need to show how critical thinking can improve people's lives; how scientific knowledge can increase one's appreciation for the beauty and grandeur of the world around us; and how having a clear picture of the universe as revealed by science can enrich our personal philosophies. This is what science integration is all about.

Amanda
-------------------------------------------------------
Amanda Duncan (503) 613-9907
Intel Corporation RA1-3-J16
Standard Logic Implementation M/S RA1-309
amanda.duncan@intel.com
-------------------------------------------------------

-----Original Message-----
From: Todd Duncan [mailto:duncan@scienceintegration.org]
Sent: Tuesday, June 27, 2000 10:40 AM
To: SII Discussion List
Subject: Re: quote of the wee

Yes, Hobson was definitely referring to society in general. (The context of the quotation was a reflection essay he wrote as outgoing editor of the American Physical Society's Physics and Society newsletter). The contradiction is expressed, for example, in the fact that many people like to play computer games, but are not interested in learning the math skills necessary to create the computer games. Or that people want cheap and abundant energy sources, but are not interested in learning the difficult physics behind the design and operation of such energy sources (and may in fact consider the physics boring and irrelevant to real life).

But I think Jeff also makes a good point that people are excited about the advances that technology makes possible - the enthusiasm about the SETI projects is a good example of this.

Todd
--
*********************************
* Todd Duncan *
* Science Integration Institute *
* duncan@scienceintegration.org *
* (503) 848-0280 *
* www.scienceintegration.org *
* 1971 SE 73rd Ave. *
* Hillsboro, OR 97123 *
*********************************
> From: "Eric R. Weeks" <weeks@deas.harvard.edu>
> Date: Tue, 27 Jun 2000 09:43:05 -0500
> To: info@scienceintegration.org, jlakin@home.com
> Cc: science@lists.pdx.edu
> Subject: Re: quote of the week
>
>
> Jeff Lakin wrote:
>> As technology grows and makes things easier to do, does that
>> make us less likely to progress and strive for knowledge and
>> further advancement in science and technology?
>
> The original quote:
>> "The fundamental contradiction of the scientific age might be the one
>> between our eager embrace of the technological fruits of science, and our
>> lazy rejection of the ways of thinking that made it all possible."
>>
>> - Art Hobson
>
> I thought the original quote was referring to society, not
> scientists specifically. For example, society wants computers &
> such, but they also want to embrace alternative medicine;
> they'd like traditional doctors & scientists to shut up about
> how such things are dubious. Magnet therapy is my personal favorite
> technique to dislike...
>
> --Eric