Clivedurdle

Editorial in today's New Scientist is discussing Gordon Brown's attitude to science.

We have a basic concept of what is needed to be a fully functioning human - this includes ability to read and write, moral sense and often skills like walking, cycling, swimming, art, dance and music.

I think science belongs in that list - not as a preferable add on but as a building block of lives - like good food and clean water and shelter.

Should we have statistics of scientific literacy comparing nations? Do we see science like that?

Arch

Hey, he doesn't sound like Dan Brown at all!

I think Gordon is on the right track here. I am not sure what percentage of universities require introductory courses into at least one science before graduation, it should be required by all universities. In high school, and primary school there should be proper grounding in science along with the math and reasoning that backs it up.

One subject that is overlooked is astronomy. When you are at the end of a telescope looking at a galaxy containing millions of stars that are millions of light years away, you begin to understand the vastness of the universe, then it is a little harder to be a fundie Christian/Muslim extremeist or fundamentalist of any type. The same concept goes for other sciences, although we did have the recent extremist doctors in the U.K. who really should have an excellent grounding in science, I believe that to be an exceptional case.

I suppose people who understand science can still be theists, and there are many people who claim to be scientist and theist. I think such people's idea of God is more likely to be fairly different than than one described in the bible. (if indeed there is a descripton of God there)

And aside from the religious angle that I have cooked up here, people that are versed in knowledge of how the physical world works may tend to make better citizens. For example they probably wouldn't vote for a non scrubbed coal fired power plant to be built so their electricity bill could be managed more easily.

Clivedurdle

Is it correct to see scientific illiteracy as being as sad and unacceptable as illiteracy?

llanitedave

Correct? I'd say absolutely vital.

Clivedurdle

Ok, so response then, as Lenin put it, what is to be done? 6.5 billion people.

Do we categorise people into mumbo jumbo, religious, superstitious not causing harm, causing harm, minimal scientific literacy, some, fair, good, excellent scientific literacy?

Is this a form of evangelism?

Caine

If everyone was "scientifically literate" then scientists wouldn't feel special anymore. Screw that.

I think I prefer getting told "Ohhhh physics, I was rubbish at that in school" whenever I tell someone what I do.

Clivedurdle

But you are still special - you have only moved from an arcane secret priesthood to a democratic way of ensuring everyone knows your magic! You are still needed to show the way!

And it is far safer that everyone is scientifically literate - I do think there is a direct correlation with humane rational people - certain bombers in some ways proving my point, their science being corrupted by religion.

Caine

It sort of loses it's appeal if the arcane magical secret bit is lost.

Dangerous or not, nothing is better for making one feel smug than arcane secrets.

schu

Reading and writing? These are kind of late comers in human development. We existed as people for over 65000 years without this ability and I think we will soon fail to maintain this ability.

Reading and writing have been useful, but they are only a method of tacking information. They are expensive to learn and will only be with us as long as they are useful. When they are no longer needed they will go to the trash bin of history.

The process has already started. The less educated, the less ability to read and write. In the end, no one will need to read and write. All knowledge will be passed on verbally. Information will be retained on video and accessed through verbal search programs.

Historians will still have to learn to read and write, but the average person will not.

Berthold

You mean, like Louis Wu when he has to get some information from an old-fashioned library on Ringworld ?