Science is an intellectual and practical interest consisting the study of the structure and behavior of the physical and natural world through observation and experiments.
In Richard Feynman’s lecture, The Value of Science, Feynman discusses and expresses the importance of scientific studies and its impact on society. He provides the readers, (well in this case the audience of the lecture) with supporting evidence and examples of scientific knowledge and a term he expresses as intellectual enjoyment.
“He argues that scientific knowledge is morally neutral, that although people can use scientific knowledge either for good or for ill, science is not something that can be ignored or stopped.” When reading this statement at first, I was unsure of the exact meaning, especially by the statement that scientific knowledge is morally neutral. But after reading the lecture, I understood the approach of Feynman when conveying his ideas about science.
Among his various theories and ideas, I enjoyed reading the practical relation that science has to reality. These relations include, medical applications and technological research produced from scientific discoveries. In regards to this theme, I believe that Feynman’s term of intellectual enjoyment greatly relates to this relation of civilization. I especially was enthralled when reading about his journey to Honolulu, where he learnt of a proverb “To every man is given the key to the gates of heaven; the same key opens the gates to hell.” This is an example of his scientific knowledge, an “enabling power to do either good or bad”. Whereas the term he refers to as intellectual enjoyment is something an individual receives from reading and learning.
In conclusion I feel there are a diverse range of topics discussed and expressed, from the scientific relation to education to the many responsibilities as scientists, in this lecture regarding the value that science has in our world. “It is our responsibility as scientists, knowing the great progress and great value of a satisfactory philosophy of ignorance, the great progress that is the fruit of freedom of thought, to proclaim the value of this freedom, to teach how doubt is not to be feared but welcomes and discussed, and to demand this freedom as our duty to all coming generations.”
Unknown VOCAB
· Negated
· Cerebrum
· Voltaires
· Proponents
Questions to Ponder
“When a scientist doesn’t know the answer to a problem, he is ignorant. When he has a hunch as to what the result is, he is uncertain. And when his is pretty darn sure of what the result is going to be, he is in some doubt. We have found it of paramount importance that in order to progress we must recognize the ignorance and leave room for doubt. Scientific knowledge is a body of statement of varying degrees of certainty-some most unsure, some nearly sure, none absolutely certain.
Using the above excerpt from the lecture, The Value of Science by Richard Feynman, answer the following questions.
1. What does Feynman mean when he states, “we must recognize the ignorance and leave room for doubt”? Does this statement suggest that doubt is a key factor that can over time leads to success?
2. What is the difference between uncertainty and being ignorant?
3. How do the terms, ignorance, certainty, and doubt relate to scientific progress and/or success?
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