Re: percent success

["Richard W. Tarara" <rtarara@saintmarys.edu>]

Ah, but now what comes into play is our own self-interest--Leigh's
evangelical zeal (but for practical rather that philosophical purposes). 
Most physicists (whether in education or research) are PAID by those
taxpayers.  It is in our own self-interest to keep those taxpayers
favorably inclined towards science and technology and with the current mood
shifting towards the negative in this regard, education becomes a major
tool for shoring up our own support.  How best to 'educate' is still the
central question for this list.

Rick

----------
> > > 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