Quote:
Originally Posted by CraigS
I have no problems with people who admit that their actions are based on faith. Never had have, never will have. I also have no problems with faith being a motivating factor for initiating scientific enquiries. There is true value which eventuates from intuitive inspiration.
What I do have a problem with, is people refusing to admit that their actions have no basis other than pure faith, and then go on to hijack the scientific process, jargon and whatever, to enrol others in the belief that their actions are following that process and principles.
This is what I see manifesting itself in the area of exo-life detection strategies. This then permeates the funding prioritisation process, leading research in a direction which de-prioritises science which does follow the process, which virtually guarantees advancement of practical human knowledge.
Does no-one else see this perspective ?
Cheers
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All scientist could be accused of doing this at one stage or another. It's not something exclusively reserved for pathological science. I think where you have to be careful is that you don't become zealous to the point where you start to see bogeymen under every rock and start blaming science you don't happen to agree with, in principle, for being the main perps of this sort of action. Many a good scientist, quite a few who are well known, in this field would very much disagree with your position on this and they would be right. You're not a scientist, nor do you have any experience in any of these fields and whilst you may have some valid points, you're not knowledgeable enough, nor are you experienced enough to be making too many pronouncements from the high ground (moral or otherwise) on matters like this. Get into a debate over this with someone with the mileage in these areas and you'd be cut down to size very quickly. Arguing from a philosophical position on these matter is easy enough...anyone can do that. But in order to bolster your position and have some weightiness behind its currency, you need that extra bit to back yourself up. If you don't, your whole position is just a matter of hot air and nothing else.
That's not to say that what I highlighted in your reply doesn't happen and isn't happening. It does. Unfortunately, all too often.
And not just in science.