[FoRK] Practicing Science: No Ideology, No False Agenda?

[Jeff Bone]

On Jan 9, 2008, at 12:28 PM, Jeff Bone wrote:

> I'd like to see a world where children are free, indeed encouraged,  
> to think of themselves as lifelong scientists, by avocation even if  
> not by trade.

To be clear...

I always get a bit miffed when I hear folks talking equating  
"practitioners of science" with "those who paid exorbitant sums (in  
dollars, time, opportunity) for advanced degrees in order to belong  
to some exclusive club of academicians."  That certainly doesn't help  
the cause of rationality and the reality-based community;  it rather  
perpetuates and validates the common critique of the public re:  
scientists, i.e. that they constitute an arrogant "elite."

I see the situation as somewhat analogous to the situation with the  
clergy and the laity prior to Luther.  Science is not, should not be,  
and cannot be allowed to become the exclusive domain of the academy.   
It should instead be as approachable as possible.  If science is a  
candle in a demon-haunted world --- we need as many candles as we can  
get, it's awfully dark around here (America) these days.

jb