Is science important?

Science can be thought of as an attempt to comprehend the multi-dimensional nature of existence. By science, I am referring here to the "hard" sciences of physics, chemistry and biology, rather than the softer social sciences of economics, psychology and so on.

I myself know not a theoretical thing about physics, chemistry or biology (I only know enough to recognize occasionally a women who has that awesome combination of great physics, great biology and great chemistry). I have learned that when I stand up, I will not float off into the space (unfortunately for socialists around the world!). This is a given and I do not need to think about it. The nearest I ever got to medical research was investigating whether Coca-Cola relieved the symptoms of cystic fibrosis, a lung disease. (Some patients found it helped, none found it hindered).

I am not worried about admitting my ignorance of science to you because I have consciously chosen not to learn about science, not because I cannot, but because I need not and want not. Science exists, it is a given, and I stand a better chance helping humanity by changing something else. I would personally rather expend my brain cells elsewhere- other people of course rightly follow their interests and inclinations and spend their life exploring scientific phenomena.

It is my contention that we should bother to try to comprehend this complex Earth using the hard sciences ONLY for pleasure (observing the wonders of nature) OR to strive in improving humanity i.e. study genes to prevent or cure genetic disorders.

There are so many things in this diverse world that each of us know nothing about, have never thought about, or consciously avoided thinking about. I myself, when "speed reading" a newspaper, always discard the sports section, which I consider to constitute fleeting events whose outcome is not crucial- to myself or almost anyone. Likewise, I never read books on history, because the future is not like the past used to be.

The secret is to recognize those things that we can influence, and decide whether or not they are worth the effort required to influence. The problem we face is that too many people think they can influence things they cannot, or have an unintended influence and too many people influence things that are not worth influencing. This means busyness and not business.

Science is important if you are great at it or fascinated by it. Otherwise, rely on gravity!

Author: Simon Buckingham

What do you think?

To make a comment to the author, send e-mail to simon@unorgan.com

 

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