Introduction:
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Hi,
My name is Murali and I've been involved with a few SII activities. My interests incluce science and all branches of philosophy with a leaning towards ethics, politics, sociology and metaphysics. My postings will roam freely over all these areas however I'm not an expert in any field. I welcome dissent because as Henry Ford supposedly said "If in a discussion two people agree; one is redundant".

Summary:
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The issue of people not paying attention to the details and only being attached to the utilitarian ends is actually quite logical and actually inevitable. It underscores the need for a philosophical appreciation of the oneness of the universe for our actions to be harmonious with nature. The key message is that "science integration" cannot happen by everyone understanding what is behind everything but through a more subler "realization" of the oneness of the universe.

The need for abstractions:
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Humans deal with any system through "abstractions" or "stereotyping". This allows less mental energy to carry out the same task than if there is no "model" of the system. "stereotyping" (oversimplified conception: an oversimplified standardized image or idea held by one person or group of another. Encarta) is essential for humans to function properly otherwise we will be paralyzed with sensory overload. This is one of the reasons that a familiar place has a calming effect whereas a new place excites.

This same principle is what makes me not worry about the theory behind microwave ovens. As long as a "system" satisfies a person's utilitarian ends he will most probably not invest energy in trying to figure out its parts. The abstractions that he deals with is all that is needed. The problem with this situation is that unlike olden times, science has advanced really deeply in to many fields and the inevitable "pockets of knowledge" have created enormous chasms between "system creators" and "system users" in terms of knowing how stuff works. In a lot of cases it is virtually impossible to "know" how stuff works because it might need years of study. The corollary to this is that "systems creators" usually tend to be apallingly myopic about the "impact" of their creations because they like everyone else are oblivious of other systems.

Ancient wisdom:
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This situation of localized knowledge and its effects on society and humanity has been understood a long time ago. In ancient Indian philosophical (vedantic) texts (3000-5000 BC), it is mentioned many times that people with the power of knowledge must have the perception of the unity of this universe (the oneness of the universe despite the apparent discontinuity between different systems) otherwise their knowledge will lead to problems to them in the best case and problems to humanity in the worst case. The whole idea is called these days as "systems thinking". The vedantic view point says that the universe is one "system" and unless a person has an appreciation or "realization" of that, his actions will not be in harmony with the "system".

Knowledge Vs. Realization AKA wisdom:
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I wish to point of a difference between knowledge and realization or Integration. Data to be useful must be put in a framework to become knowledge. Similarly knowledge to be useful must be put into action under the guidance of an understanding of the unity of the universe. Without this holistic understanding desires and the power of knowledge will lead humanity down unpleasant paths. There is a need for synthesis of knowledge or "integration" of science into day to day life.

The imperative for the realization of the oneness:
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Given the impossibility of everyone having an understanding of scientific information underlying everyday things and given that actios taken without a "systems understanding" can't have lasting impact, it is extremely important that everyone understands that the universe is one "system". If that message is driven into people's heads and "internalized" then each individual will automatically "seek" the information needed to comprehend the depths of the systems that he interacts with. This realization of the oneness of the universe is called "Atma balam" in Vedantic (Ancient Indian Philosophy) literature. It approximately means "The power derived by the understanding that you are a part of the system". Among other things Vedanta says that the only real teacher is "knowledge and experience". It says that there must be a balace between contemplation and action and it says than action without contemplation (meditation) will lead to ruin. Vedanta says "The world is one" and it prescribes some techniques for people to "experience" the oneness and invites everyone to experiment and experience the oneness that the sages said they felt with the universe.

It is as old as the hills:
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"Science tells us how to heal and how to kill; it reduces the death rate in retail and kills us wholesale in war; but only wisdom - desire coordinated in the light of all experience - can tell us when to heal and when to kill. To observe process and to construct means is science; to criticize and coortinate ends is philosophy; and because in these days our means and instruments have multiplied beyond our interpretation and synthesis of ideals and ends, our life is full of sound and fury signifying nothing. For a fact is nothing except in relation to desire; itis not complete except in relation to a purpose and a whole. Science without philosophy, facts without perspective and valuation cannot save us from havoc and despair. Science gives us knowledge, but only philosophy gives us wisdom".

The above quote is an in excellent introduction to ancient Indian Vedantic (non-dualistic) philosophy. The only surprising thing is that I got it out of "The Story Of Philosophy" by Will Durant. This book provides an account of the lives and opinions of the great philosophers of the western world from Plato to Santayana.
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-Murali:)