Why do I always feel the need to start with a disclaimer?
Disclaimer: I don’t think science itself is folly. Quite the opposite, science is very useful and should be vigorously supported. However, I do find that there is a weakness/inconsistency in the purpose and promotion of science.
Let me explain my thinking thus far…
I feel that modern scientists (at least in the media and to the layman like myself) often portray science as unlocking the mysteries of the world so that we will have knowledge. They also represent the world as finite*. What then will happen when we know all there is to know about our finite universe? Will the human quest for more knowledge become satisfied. I expect it would become personalized in that each individual would not know everything, but what does that do to our culture as humans, to our humanity. I feel we have a human longing to discover, to adventure, to seek out. To know is not simply to acquire but to discover.
What will become of humanity when as a whole this is no longer the case. At this point in time I think I’d like to not have us discover some things (i.e. non-medical) than lose the push and shaping that comes from mystery.
It seems science use to be about questions, today the most honored/publicised science is about answers.
