Why Scientists Should Have a Greater Voice On Global Security 167
Lasrick writes "Physicist Lawrence Krauss has a great piece in the NY Times today about the lack of influence scientists wield on global security issues, to the world's detriment. He writes, 'To our great peril, the scientific community has had little success in recent years influencing policy on global security. Perhaps this is because the best scientists today are not directly responsible for the very weapons that threaten our safety, and are therefore no longer the high priests of destruction, to be consulted as oracles as they were after World War II. The problems scientists confront today are actually much harder than they were at the dawn of the nuclear age, and their successes more heartily earned. This is why it is so distressing that even Stephen Hawking, perhaps the world’s most famous living scientist, gets more attention for his views on space aliens than his views on nuclear weapons. Scientists' voices are crucial in the debates over the global challenges of climate change, nuclear proliferation and the potential creation of new and deadly pathogens. But unlike in the past, their voices aren't being heard.'"
If Scientists Ran Global Security... (Score:4, Interesting)
- "hackers" would be called "tireless researchers"
- finding security flaws would be called "peer-review"
- there would be a lot more 14-year-olds leading new scientific advances
and...
- people who put their own self-interests aside to disseminate paywalled scientific research for the betterment of humankind would be labeled "heros," and be awarded posthumous honors
Re:Because government no longer listens ... (Score:5, Interesting)
The problem with science and scientists is that they are money losing ventures. Scientists are not rich, they talk in very complicated manners, and do not come to conclusions! Scientists know the world is complex and all problems are complex and solved in a piecemeal manner.
Its much easier to say, "And I am here to tell you 1776 will commence again if you try to take our firearms!"
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/video/2013/jan/08/alex-jones-pro-gun-tirade-piers-morgan-video [guardian.co.uk]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtyKofFih8Y [youtube.com]
There is nothing factual about this. Nothing of value, but gee it sure sounds good and makes a good impression. This is what American society and many other societies have degraded to. So yeah no politician wants to listen to a scientist because this is what a scientist sounds like:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anfbjiShjP8 [youtube.com]
Compare the Youtube count, 6 million vs 100K. Yeah people are interested in facts!!!
Blind Faith vs Science (Score:4, Interesting)
The major power structures, church and state, are formed around blind faith.
They know what is best and will do it for you. You just have to believe.
Science is based around inquiry and questioning what is going on.
To accept science you must be open to doubt.
The major power structures are based on doubt and questioning being a very very bad thing.
If we want science to go up we must become free of the current power structures.