Tuesday 20 June 2017

Science Fails The Science Test!



We are told that science is pure
We are TOLD that science is PRO-gress
We are told we would be "in the dark ages"[assuming/implying that would be "bad"] without science
Thank goodness we know climate change is real! Thanks Exxon! [Exxon and other Big Oil had the science to prove human induced climate change in the 1970s. They made changes to their rigs, etc. But they dared not tell "us".]

But is science really "neutral" and "value free"? Anyone that took a grade one science class - you know with play-dough and paint - knows that science is NEITHER!

As Kathy Greeley and Sue Tafler state: "The way science is used - the kinds of questions asked, the kinds of research funded, the application of scientific theories - is determined by those controlling the pursestrings and values of each society." We see in our society that this "pure and undefiled" striving for knowledge serves the class interests of a small elite group that values profit and private property over humans, nonhumans and their well-being. Not only so, but their very existence is determined by both the material and ideological class interests of the few.

Scientists are put on the pedestal - or, more precisely, behind the high priest veil of infallibility and wisdom. We must seek their blessings and submit to their prescriptions for a better world. The class nature of practice of science is blurred - not even brought "to the light" - as we are taught to follow their "expertise" without question.

Surely, they would do no harm to us! Hmmm. Who made the atomic bomb? Where did chemical weapons come from? Where did all weapons come from? Who/why were the #1 killer of kids come from? [cars - not to mention the formation of ISIS as a result of wiping out nearly 2000000 Iraqis, ad nauseum!...]. Who created the surveillance systems that are following what I am writing and you are reading at this exact moment? Who is benefiting from recombinant DNA [GMOs being one example of them]. Without the regulation of government and, even, the blessing of government, what will become of the above?

Let us not forget that the majority of research if for the military or business [or the biz of military: the U.S. spends about 60% of its budget on military! Well they do have to "lead" the world in the way of peace, love and kindness!].

Seeking, demanding technological solutions to social and political problems, the establishment ideology continues to persuade us of our power-less-ness and the need for submission.

We will continue the discussion here and also look at, perhaps the biggest "un-scientific" area of science: nutritional science - at https://123EatMeOut.blogspot.ca  The idea of creating a hypothesis, testing it, retesting it, changing it, etc. is almost non-existent in many areas of science - especially that of "food", as we will see.

No comments:

Post a Comment