tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8839412.post6603284709513994705..comments2024-03-19T07:48:54.021-06:00Comments on Gus Van Horn: A Circumscribed DebateGus Van Hornhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05126749051688217781noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8839412.post-63498170885552149152008-08-19T15:54:00.000-06:002008-08-19T15:54:00.000-06:00Thanks to the notion that the government should fu...Thanks to the notion that the government should fund research, most academic scientists in America, myself included, depend on the government for at least part of their funding to the extent that it is basically impossible to have such a career without doing so.<BR/><BR/>This means, among other things, that there is less funding for science from what would be normal sources (no money to donate/no perceived need to) and there is probably much more funding of science than is really needed.<BR/><BR/>So while there is still good science out there, there is a trend towards the end point you describe, for people get wind of what's 'hot" and will often direct their efforts in that direction, and others become invested in what I call "pet theories" (i.e., indifferent to whether their theory actually describes reality). The philosophical notion that man can't know reality, popular among scientists (who overwhelmingly seem to be both skeptics and dterminists) helps that trend along for obvious reasons.Gus Van Hornhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05126749051688217781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8839412.post-52015319569671868732008-08-19T15:00:00.000-06:002008-08-19T15:00:00.000-06:00In Canada, very few academics function without gov...In Canada, very few academics function without government money obtained by regular application for research funding. The best term for them is "<B>Welfare Scientists</B>".<BR/><BR/>Of course, the applications must appeal to Welfare Science bureaucrats who a) subscribe to the politically correct research such a funding design is premised upon and b) established themselves in academic careers that were dependent on such welfare. Like the materials mandated by the state for recycling, if their research was truly worthwhile it would not need government intervention to support itself. <BR/><BR/>Our Federal government alone has 17 different granting agencies. Each province also has its own granting agencies which are slightly less numerous. The damage done, to research direction and to independent scientific thought, is incalculable.Richardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02479600882274172677noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8839412.post-66271772976677109142008-08-19T11:57:00.000-06:002008-08-19T11:57:00.000-06:00"We must be a highly advanced culture to benefit f..."<I>We must be a highly advanced culture to benefit from such arcane expertise. </I>"<BR/><BR/>If by "advanced", you mean in an advanced state of government micromanagement, I agree.Gus Van Hornhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05126749051688217781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8839412.post-34972401264595166782008-08-19T11:48:00.000-06:002008-08-19T11:48:00.000-06:00"An expert in higher-education law"Wow! We must be..."An expert in higher-education law"<BR/><BR/>Wow! We must be a highly advanced culture to benefit from such arcane expertise. <BR/><BR/>"Scientific-method law" will probably be next. Lawyers have almost perfected the public's unwitting expectation establishing the legal profession as America's de facto royalty. Only the Supreme Court can intervene. Uh oh!<BR/><BR/>I recall one line in particular from Shakespeare ...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com