Looking at a century of so-called progress
Posted 02.05.2009 at 11:15 am
2 Comments
Science has come a long way in the last century. Advances in communication, changes in who funds scientific research and how, and who actually conducts the research have all changed the scientific community. Shifts in views and an increasing acceptance of people from various cultures and demographics have also propelled science into a new era. In most cases, science is no longer misused to reinforce racial or gender stereotypes or otherwise support social injustice. Although by no means an exhaustive list, here are 10 examples illustrating how science has changed, for better or worse.
What do you think are the most significant changes -- good and bad -- that have taken place?
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I'm sorry, but trying to classify the hugely diverse fields of study known collectively as Science as "better" or "worse" is the worst kind of UNscientific drivel I've ever heard. This kind of subjective judgment has little place in real science.
from Brooklyn, NY
@SaulRosenberg
I think you've missed the point.
The goal is not to classify everything in science as good or bad. There certainly is something scientific in analyzing past events and isolating paradigm shifts or foibles in science. The whole business of looking back at data and analyzing trends and changes is a worthwhile intellectual venture, no questions. Especially when the information is then passed to a broad audience including those who have no prior knowledge of these events. That's science journalism.