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Re: percent success





On Wed, 13 Nov 1996, Richard W. Tarara wrote:

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From: Donald E. Simanek <dsimanek@eagle.lhup.edu>
Let me play the Devil's advocate here (again!).
.....

However, as taxpayers they aren't asked to fund billions of dollars of
philosophy projects. The fact is, that the 'person on the street' has a
fairly big stake in the 'science and technology' game, but is for the most
part ignorant of even the basics of what science and technology IS and
DOES.

This is a very good point of difference between the two fields. However
let's consider some other fields which taxpayers ought to know something
about to make good political judgments. Should they understand the details
of the politics and history of Bosnia, or Central Africa or the Middle
East so they will know whether our politicians are making the right
decisions in these areas? Should they know the details of economics of
trade policy, and be able to anticipate the impact of any changes of
policy in this area? Now I know these areas are not 'sciences' in the
sense that the natural sciences are. But what fraction of the population
have any more correct and detailed understanding of these areas,
(sufficient to make predictions and weigh options) than they do in the
natural sciences? And is it reasonable that even 90% of those who are
schooled in the United States (I hesitate to say 'educated') *can* achieve
a working and useful understanding of all of the areas which affect their
lives.

-- Donald

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Dr. Donald E. Simanek Office: 717-893-2079
Prof. of Physics Internet: dsimanek@eagle.lhup.edu
Lock Haven University, Lock Haven, PA. 17745 CIS: 73147,2166
Home page: http://www.lhup.edu/~dsimanek FAX: 717-893-2047
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