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I'm just going to point out that to people that have a concern about wealthy people funding research that is how science has been done long before research gran
by hpoe 6y ago
I'm just going to point out that to people that have a concern about wealthy people funding research that is how science has been done long before research grants or anything like that came on the scene.
For a long time art and the sciences were funded by wealthy merchants and kings giving money to people like Lenardo Da Vinci to eat while they worked on their ideas.
Also another point, people worry about the corrupting influence of money on research but there is nothing that stops someone with money from setting up a research lab independent of a university and producing their own research. In fact I would think having the research done with a prestigious university would be a better check on the results because the individuals doing the research are tied deeply into their communities and as such their is more oversight and discussion on the topic.
- dredmorbius 6y agoWhat are the greatest advances in science and/or technology? How were those financed? Is there any evidence of bias toward or away from specific areas based on moneyed, political, or other interests?
- WalterBright 6y agoA couple: 1. Einstein was funded by himself. 2. The Wright Bros were funded by themselves. They were motivated by the idea of getting rich selling airplanes. The government funded alternative, the Langley, flopped (literally) into the Potomac. 3. Whittle's jet engine was funded (in part) by a little old lady. Government refused to fund it. 4. The Reich refused to fund jet engines until Heinkel demonstrated a flying prototype. It was financed by Heinkel. 5. The transistor was invented by Bell Labs funded from AT&T's profits. 6. The first transatlantic cable was funded by wealthy investors looking to make money off of it. 7. Several explorers were funded by newspapers in exchange for exclusive story rights.
- cma 6y agoDidn't Einstein do his work during business hours as a government-paid patent clerk?