About Scientists

Is there really a core of scientists or institutions that control all of science; and have so much power? No. It is the politicians who hold the funding and are happy with coal and oil burning for electricity generation and running cars too. There are many disciplines in science but I do not believe that they're trying to sell their brand of reality like religious sects. This is a misrepresentation. Each discipline want to add to the knowledge that humanity holds. Are scientists nobler than the rest of humanity... of course not. Scientists have the same good and bad traits that the rest of humans have. Are the ideals of the scientific pursuit noble? Yes. It is much nobler than the ideals of dogmatic Abrahamic religions are. Have "science and our technological wonders outstripped our human ethics"? Perhaps, but to what extent are we willing to backtrack?

It is applied sciences, technology, like housing and cars and jumbo jets and bridges and 100-story buildings, with all the supporting factories, steel mills, etc. that use all this dirty electrical energy or coal burning... Is it not those scientists and engineers that merit our scorn? Well yes and no! If we are going to criticize science, we need to be more specific about exactly what we're talking about. Science covers a lot of disciplines... and not all are of equal value or deserving of funding or criticism. It is a matter of priority. Then, there are technologies that provide us with our toys, like large screen LED TVs and surround sound, iPods, computers, tablets and smartphones, etc. How much coal or oil do you think is burnt every year to support all the industries mentioned? Are we ready to give up those technologies or move from our 1,500 sq.ft. home to a 1,000 sq.ft. home or stop flying. Are we ready to give up A/C in cars and homes?

It seems to me that it is bashing science in general that is open for debate. I do not believe that science claims to have dominion over nature like some religions do. In fact the scientific method is trying to explain nature using reasoning, empiricism, theory and experimentation... and honest scientists will readily admit that we are far from knowing everything about nature. And I do believe that some scientific endeavours such as with hot fusion research can dig us out of the nightmare of burning fossil fuels which is the true problem presently underlying science and technology.