Politicalization of Science

John Scott · 11-12-2007, 06:03 AM

The politicalization of science is commonplace by now. I wonder how many people feel it's justified.

Let's take a hypothetical situation. Let's say that scientists found that men are capable of more intellectual processes per second than women, thereby making men "smarter". (It's a hypothetical situation, women, so don't get your panties in a wad yet.)

If this were found to be the case, would scientists be justified in suppressing it for the sake of social equality?

Zap · 11-12-2007, 06:27 AM

Science should be the pursuit of truth, whether we like that truth or not.
All too often, it does get politicized and ceases to be science at that point.
Case in point: Just look at the global warming thread.

Some scientists say that humans cause the Earth to warm with our habits. Other scientists claim it's all a bunch of bullshit.
The truth has become so obscured that you can't even call it science anymore.
The science got lost in all the politics.

John Scott · 11-12-2007, 06:28 AM

Quote:

The science got lost in all the politics.

Amen.

It's a sorry reality when science is funded by governments.

**Rankenstein** · 11-12-2007, 07:38 AM

Yeah, it's like the UK government has been running trials comparing 'organic' with 'GM'. Funny though, that they spent ten times more on the GM trials, and ran polls to test the public's attitude to the two, with questions like:
"Do you want your eggs to have bits of soil and feathers on them, or do you want big clean tasty eggs?"
I paraphrase, of course, but that's exactly what happens when government finances science. The people doing the testing tend to support the people paying them. If the people paying them see big money in GM crops, then GM turns out to be great.

**StarLab** · 11-12-2007, 08:45 AM

Hmmm... Politics and truth... I had no idea there was a relationship here.

Unfortunately, most leading edge research is conducted by Government or Corporate funding. When the results come in, they hold all the cards in regard to how the new information is used. If it is harmful to the the populace, then the government will bury it. If it can turn a profit, the Corporation will patent it.

If men were smarter than women, I'd still be Married!

StrongInTheArm · 11-12-2007, 01:06 PM

The pursuit of science is the pursuit of truth. Many scientists have confused this with the pursuit of funding or the popularising of their new book.

Also, generally speaking, he who pays the piper, calls the tune.

Zap · 11-12-2007, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Scott

It's a sorry reality when science is funded by governments.

...made even worse by the fact that some of the brightest minds to ever live are alive today and they have to put up with their life's work being overshadowed by the lowest common denominator and/or the highest bidder.

cldnails · 11-13-2007, 03:34 PM

This subject hit a little closer to home than you know John. Did you see where the Nobel prize winning scientist made the connection that 'africans' were not as intelligent as Westerners? Hey, even if evidence points to the fact...

Quote:

> Fury at DNA pioneer's theory: Africans are less intelligent than
> Westerners
> Celebrated scientist attacked for race comments: "All our social policies
> are based on the fact that their intelligence is the same as ours -
> whereas all the testing says not really"
> By Cahal Milmo
> Published: 17 October 2007

**South** · 11-14-2007, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cldnails

This subject hit a little closer to home than you know John. Did you see where the Nobel prize winning scientist made the connection that 'africans' were not as intelligent as Westerners? Hey, even if evidence points to the fact...

So what do you think? Asians are shown to be smarter than my group, my group smarter than another. Present the findings or bury them so nobody gets their feelings hurt?

John Scott · 11-15-2007, 12:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by South

So what do you think? Asians are shown to be smarter than my group, my group smarter than another. Present the findings or bury them so nobody gets their feelings hurt?

A bit more complicated than that. Studies show that sub-Saharan Africans average IQ is 70. In contrast, African-Americans average about 85.(Linkage.)

That suggests that it's not genetics, but environment, that determines intelligence.

**Rankenstein** · 11-15-2007, 02:40 AM

IQ tests generally determine how good you are at IQ tests. I'm usually in the top 1% of IQ tests. However, an environment IQ test would see me dying in sub-Saharan Africa while those dummy natives sit around laughing because I don't know how to eat a thorn shrub.

I'm sure nurture and environment play a huge role in intelligence.