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Go science? Science has become such a cult.
by swayvil 10y ago
Go science?
Science has become such a cult.
- beisner 10y ago*Pop science
- nonbel 10y agoI don't think any scientists consider TED talks a serious venue. Anyone who thinks they are learning rather than being entertained is mistaken. Not saying there is anything wrong with entertainment, it is just bad for us all when people confuse the two.
- throwanem 10y agoBut that's the whole point of TED. It's upmarket standup that you can feel like you're improving yourself by watching, which is why so many of the jokes suck - laughing might make the pretense impossible to maintain.
- AstralStorm 10y agoSometimes it does show serious topics that are or have been pretty seriously researched. It'd is quite easy to filter out the entertainment or worthless talks in fact: See if math or diagrams are used. Some talks are pie in the sky idea talks, essentially fuel for hypotheses. Filtered by talking about a serious subject but not showing math or diagrams. And finally there are stories. Spotted by a typically "human" talk and "social" topic. Not useful.
- JuliusKaiser 10y agoI can't tell if this comment is serious or not but I find it odd that people who know fuck all about science go around bashing people over the head with it.
- kapauldo 10y agoThey only bash in defense. Non scientific people have been bashing people over the head with non science for centuries.
- metaphorm 10y agoI think it's a serious comment lamenting the rise of "scientism" which is a dogmatic belief in the supremacy of rationalism and materialism. it's possible to be very opposed to scientism while also being very supportive of good science.
- thr0waway1239 10y agoThe dogmatic belief also has side effects. If you have ever been with someone you considered generally wise but also held on to some non-scientific belief, you know two things. 1. Taking away the non-scientific belief will cause a genuine vacuum in their life, and what comes in to fill it usually takes away the happiness they had earlier 2. The dogmatic folks don't put any/much importance on what a moving target science is, and how badly it conflicts with normal folks need for permanence. Some of them will scoff at this as "unwillingness to change", but realistically speaking no one likes change just for the heck of change unless it is an actual improvement of some aspect of their life. Society has "changed" towards embracing more materialism, but its side effect of less human connection is not an improvement that most people actually desire. So do you wish to be happy and contented? Don't expect science to give you an answer. If there is something that science cannot provide, then it is just another tool in your toolkit and will continue to co-exist with other things which can make you happier, no matter how "unscientific" those things are.
- joefourier 10y agoWhat's the alternative to rationalism and materialism? How can good science be practiced without rational reasoning and physical (i.e. material) evidence?
- metaphorm 10y agoyou missed something important > dogmatic belief in the supremacy of rationalism and materialism good science absolutely must take a rationalist and materialist view. however, the needs of good science are not necessarily the supreme values which to make any and all decisions.