FabSwingers.com > Forums > Ireland > Scientific literacy/illiteracy ?
Scientific literacy/illiteracy ?
Jump to: Newest in thread
 |
By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
|
There would seem to be a strata of people that have a ubiquitous scientific illiteracy.
They seem to get their facts through facebook rather than peer reviewed scientific journals.
Clinging to superstition for knowledge on biology or the cosmos for instance.
Disregarding evolution as it conflicts with their religious dogma. Maintaining a steadfast belief the earth is circa 6,000-10,000 years again based on religious dogma.
Flat earth conspiracy theorists. People who disregard the moon landing. People who are ill-informed on vaccines and choose not to vaccinate their kids based on bad research.
The belief in a geocentric universe. The lack of understanding why the sun isn't actually yellow or why the sky appears to blue/red etc.
The total misunderstanding when it comes to the word theory when it has been used in a scientific field.
Are you reasonably literate when it comes to science ? On matters you're not , do you claim knowledge nonetheless or possibly suffer from the dunning-kruger effect ?
Some fantastic scientific minds around at the moment such as Krauss, Hawking, Dawkins, Kaku, DeGrasse Tyson etc. I find the mysteries being uncovered fascinating and I am often bemused at the lack of knowledge people have on reasonably basic science.
|
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
The biggest problem with scientific facts is most are not facts but theoretical,therefore what is taken as truth today may well be debunked tomorrow, flat earth, Adam and Eve,Earth age,Earth as centre of the universe etc etc were all seen as truth at one time after all. So to dismiss one set of beliefs against another may be jumping the gun a little. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"There would seem to be a strata of people that have a ubiquitous scientific illiteracy.
They seem to get their facts through facebook rather than peer reviewed scientific journals.
Clinging to superstition for knowledge on biology or the cosmos for instance.
Disregarding evolution as it conflicts with their religious dogma. Maintaining a steadfast belief the earth is circa 6,000-10,000 years again based on religious dogma.
Flat earth conspiracy theorists. People who disregard the moon landing. People who are ill-informed on vaccines and choose not to vaccinate their kids based on bad research.
The belief in a geocentric universe. The lack of understanding why the sun isn't actually yellow or why the sky appears to blue/red etc.
The total misunderstanding when it comes to the word theory when it has been used in a scientific field.
Are you reasonably literate when it comes to science ? On matters you're not , do you claim knowledge nonetheless or possibly suffer from the dunning-kruger effect ?
Some fantastic scientific minds around at the moment such as Krauss, Hawking, Dawkins, Kaku, DeGrasse Tyson etc. I find the mysteries being uncovered fascinating and I am often bemused at the lack of knowledge people have on reasonably basic science.
"
I think you're great too. That's probably the most condescending post I've read here in a while and that's saying something.  |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By *appyPandaMan
over a year ago
Kilkenny, but Dublin is more fun |
Well I'm a bit of a science nut and find it incredibly interesting but we must all be aware that if science knew everything, it would be over. Sure it even gets more interesting when something we took for granted gets completely overwritten by complete surprises due to new findings. In the dawn of the last century, many physicists assumed we were nearly finished with physics as it was completely understood, then came the dawn of quantum physics and Einstein's general theory of relativity which pretty much destroyed what was assumed to be gravity.
Favourite has to be Richard Feynman though. He was one of the guys working on the atom bomb and always played pranks while living at that super secret base. When looking for notes from a colleague, he was too impatient to ask them for the combination for their safes, so just cracked the safes himself instead. Due to him being a smartarse and leaving silly little notes behind him, the whole Los Alamos place got extremely paranoid and ended up discovering a Nazi double agent accidentally. 
Also, he played bongo drums in strip clubs very frequently. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
"There would seem to be a strata of people that have a ubiquitous scientific illiteracy.
They seem to get their facts through facebook rather than peer reviewed scientific journals.
Clinging to superstition for knowledge on biology or the cosmos for instance.
Disregarding evolution as it conflicts with their religious dogma. Maintaining a steadfast belief the earth is circa 6,000-10,000 years again based on religious dogma.
Flat earth conspiracy theorists. People who disregard the moon landing. People who are ill-informed on vaccines and choose not to vaccinate their kids based on bad research.
The belief in a geocentric universe. The lack of understanding why the sun isn't actually yellow or why the sky appears to blue/red etc.
The total misunderstanding when it comes to the word theory when it has been used in a scientific field.
Are you reasonably literate when it comes to science ? On matters you're not , do you claim knowledge nonetheless or possibly suffer from the dunning-kruger effect ?
Some fantastic scientific minds around at the moment such as Krauss, Hawking, Dawkins, Kaku, DeGrasse Tyson etc. I find the mysteries being uncovered fascinating and I am often bemused at the lack of knowledge people have on reasonably basic science.
"
Honestly that is the most self indulgent post i have ever read. It must be hard interacting every day with us mere mortals |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
Reasonably literate but humble enough to know that I only know the basics of most areas.
I'm quite worried about social media and its effects on the public consciousness and their grasp on what is factual or reasonable or ridiculous.
Of course we've already had the "boffins say" version of bad science for 20 plus years in the newspaper snippets. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
|
I'm fully aware science changes . The flat earth was disproven by Erathosthenes about more than 2,000 years ago. The fact people still believe the earth is flat is the monstrosity. I'm certainly not suggesting I am a physicist or a biologist etc but my scientific literacy is influenced by peer reviewed scientists not psuedoscience.
The original post was not intended to be an "I am better than you because I am more scientifically literate than you" post.
I am acutely aware of what I don't understand in science and if I have perceived knowledge elsewhere I am open to correction on viewing of the neccessary contradictory evidence.
It does amaze me how easily triggered people get when a post is a general question and it sets off their own insecurities.
To paraphrase Cathy Simon , you probably think this post about you.
|
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
The word theory has a number of meanings. In a strictly scientific sense (as used for example with the theory of evolution), its meaning is more aligned with 'theorem' as in a mathematical theorem, as opposed to the more common usage meaning pretty much an unsupported idea. If we want to call science a belief system, then fine, but there are differences in belief systems. Some are based on zero evidence, some are based on overwhelming evidence. Science is the latter. It is a fact that the earth is round and it is a fact that the earth is more than 10,000 years old. These aren't theories, they are truths that always have been and always will be true. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
» Add a new message to this topic
