Re: Evidence for "Big Bang Theory"
Peter Ceresole (peter@cara.demon.co.uk)
18 May 1995 20:24:21 +0100
In article <Yasha-1705951314250001@mac2wild2.tamu.edu>,
Yasha@bigraf.tamu.edu (Yasha Hartberg) wrote:
>I have no secret political agenda in mind when I
>propose to do research and I think the same could be said for the
>scientific community as a whole. Yet time and time again, our theories
>have been used to further political causes we never anticipated. But I
>don't think I am deluding myself when I say that a great deal of good has
>come from scientific research as well. So earnestly I ask, how can
>balance be achieved?
It can only be achieved by pluralism, which comes from the (relatively)
free contention of ideas. This is messy and doesn't necessarily lead to
justice, but it sure as hell works better than any alternative.
So your doubts expressed above are a minuscule part of that contention. As
is this reply. We just do our thing and fight our corner. The only thing
you can do directly to stop your ideas being misused by the most powerful
is to stop working with ideas. But you can act politically in any of the
many ways available.
Talking concretely now, as a scientist the most directly effective thing
you can do is to become the adviser to someone who has achieved political
power. As Jean Monnet said "It takes a long time to get power, but it
doesn't take long to persuade the person already in power of what needs to
be done, especially if you give them the credit." Having done just that, he
knew what he was talking about. And Edward Teller. Look at him selling Star
Wars to Hopalong. Not a pretty sight, but he achieved the diversion of
billions of dollars' worth of resources for several years. I guess the
thing to do is pitch in there for what you believe in.
All a bit of a shambles, but then the world is like that.
Peter
|