Sheer stupidity is a threat to our scientific progress | Letters
Friday 29th September 2023
Prof AM Celâl Şengör, Damian Pattinson and Jack Whalen respond to Giorgio Parisi’s article about how the world lost its trust in scientists
It is impossible to disagree with Giorgio Parisi’s deeply felt concern (Is it TikTok or global crisis? How the world lost its trust in scientists like me, 25 September). A part of the blame must be shared with schools and universities. During my lifetime (I was born in 1955) the quality of instruction has declined at an accelerating rate. The teaching of natural sciences has lost its former rigour in favour of social science claims that are blatant nonsense, such as the argument that scientific knowledge is not based on observation, hypothesis generation and rigorous testing by the world scientific community, but is “constructed” within the framework of the political and social convictions of scientists.
Those who teach such ideas seem not to be aware that the world community of scientists would soon discard any hypothesis that conflicts with observation. That is why science has made such rapid progress since Galileo ignited the scientific revolution in the 17th century. Those societies that have lagged behind are those that tried to subordinate science to social convictions, including religions and such political dogmas as Marxism, nazism, fascism and similar movements that forbid free, critical thinking. We must go back to the optimism of the Enlightenment and teach the coming generations that whatever humanity knows has become known because of science. Everything else is wishful thinking, and may be so dangerous that it might spell the end of our civilisation.
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