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This is Nature… But seriously, what science to fund is political, and I hardly think this topic is out of scope for an editorial in a venue where science polic

by rsfern 5y ago

This is Nature… But seriously, what science to fund is political, and I hardly think this topic is out of scope for an editorial in a venue where science policy matters so much to the audience

hirako2000 5y ago
That's become a fact that much of science is funded from geo political factions. the further atomic combustion development is certainly a great example. it doesn't mean all science is, nor should be. you make it sound like the purpose of science research is to pursue particular political pursuits. and by doing that you are implicitly endorcing this view. A reminder of significant science discoverers through history: Pythagoras, Archimedes, Aristotle, Da Vinci, Copernicus, Galileo, Newton, Maxwell, Plank, Bohr, Einstein. one could hardly see a trend of politically funded or motived pursuits. what (most of) the greatest scientists have in common is that they researched and pushed science further on the name of science, most weren't funded politically, quite the opposite, some were in strict opposition with political status quo and were impeded by it. I would agree that modern "science" has been for a large part corrupted by monetary gains, hijacked by private enterprises, governments, and (mis) guided by such. It may have always been so, all the future generations get to see is what's left of it, the skimmed gems that anyhow gets out of the few brilliant minds of the entire humanity. It doesn't imply we should make it seem normal nor a desirable. Science in it's millenia long history, what it accomplished and the figures who accomplished it, their background, affiliation and funding (or lack of) isn't reflective of our current model. that is what my parent comment tries to highlight. Even Science magasine, one of the most respected journal, is increasingly discrediting itself by publishing politically heavy articles and headlines. they could have kept this article apolitical, the title instead is so politically heavy it is borderline click bait or a tone of a state press conference statement. down votes is only a reflection, what science has turned into is even being swallowed as legitimate even by one of the most technically educated fringe of our society. The HN readers.

by rsfern 5y ago

This is Nature… But seriously, what science to fund is political, and I hardly think this topic is out of scope for an editorial in a venue where science policy matters so much to the audience

hirako2000 5y ago

That's become a fact that much of science is funded from geo political factions. the further atomic combustion development is certainly a great example. it doesn't mean all science is, nor should be. you make it sound like the purpose of science research is to pursue particular political pursuits. and by doing that you are implicitly endorcing this view. A reminder of significant science discoverers through history: Pythagoras, Archimedes, Aristotle, Da Vinci, Copernicus, Galileo, Newton, Maxwell, Plank, Bohr, Einstein. one could hardly see a trend of politically funded or motived pursuits. what (most of) the greatest scientists have in common is that they researched and pushed science further on the name of science, most weren't funded politically, quite the opposite, some were in strict opposition with political status quo and were impeded by it. I would agree that modern "science" has been for a large part corrupted by monetary gains, hijacked by private enterprises, governments, and (mis) guided by such. It may have always been so, all the future generations get to see is what's left of it, the skimmed gems that anyhow gets out of the few brilliant minds of the entire humanity. It doesn't imply we should make it seem normal nor a desirable. Science in it's millenia long history, what it accomplished and the figures who accomplished it, their background, affiliation and funding (or lack of) isn't reflective of our current model. that is what my parent comment tries to highlight. Even Science magasine, one of the most respected journal, is increasingly discrediting itself by publishing politically heavy articles and headlines. they could have kept this article apolitical, the title instead is so politically heavy it is borderline click bait or a tone of a state press conference statement. down votes is only a reflection, what science has turned into is even being swallowed as legitimate even by one of the most technically educated fringe of our society. The HN readers.