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I haven't done the research, but I hypothesize that this lack of knowledge
is not limited to physics, or even to science. The list contained many
illustration of deficiencies of knowledge of political science and
history. Literature could probably be added to it.
I think most people in general are resistant to learning unless it
immediately affects them directly or stimulates their pleasure center.
Even the stimulation is quickly forgotten because it served its purpose.
Basically, I'm thinking that most people don't care to have a broad range
of knowledge (not simply information, but a sense of the integration of
different topics). That makes our occupation of education extremely
difficult. The audience simply wants to know "How do I survive this
course?" (whether it be physics or history) because they don't see (or
expect) an immediate return on investment. I saw a sad illustration of
this on the Today Show this morning. The topic was the proposed new
warnings on cigarette packaging, and the story included sound bites from
teenage smokers. One eighteen-year-old smoker made a statement something
like this [words are not exact, but the idea is clear]: "I've been smoking
for 6 years and it hasn't hurt me yet." I screamed at the idiot. Another
teen: "I guess when I start coughing up blood, I'll quit." Yeah.