The Shift in Public Science: From Awe to Indifference
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The Beauty of Nature and Human Perception
Naturalist John Muir, in his 1915 essays ‘Travels to Alaska’, eloquently expressed:
“…when we view the entire world as a grand dewdrop, adorned with continents and islands, soaring through space alongside other stars, all harmonizing and shining as one, the universe reveals itself as an endless storm of beauty.”
Conversely, in a 2009 lecture about his work ‘A Universe from Nothing’, physicist Lawrence Krauss remarked:
“We now understand that our significance is far less than we believed. If you eliminate everything observable, the universe remains nearly unchanged. We are merely a one percent bit of pollution in a universe… we are utterly inconsequential.”
These contrasting perspectives highlight a profound shift in how public science conveys its significance. Muir's vision celebrates the universe's extraordinary beauty and intelligibility, while Krauss's perspective reduces science to a tool for debunking meaning and belittling human experience. Krauss tweeted in 2017:
“Faith, like hope, is merely a human construct that allows us to pretend that an indifferent universe cares about our preferences.”
This cynicism characterizes a generation of public scientists, particularly among the new atheists and their affiliates like Krauss. In a time when religious faith is diminishing, science has increasingly been depicted as a means of denying meaning. Even more tempered viewpoints, such as Brian Cox’s assertion that “meaning is local”—implying we fabricate meaning temporarily before it fades—reflect this trend. Figures like Neil DeGrasse Tyson often utilize science to mock alternative worldviews, stating:
“In earlier times, people attributed storms at sea to the god Neptune. Today, we label these phenomena hurricanes… The only ones who still refer to hurricanes as ‘acts of God’ are those drafting insurance policies.”
In contrast, Muir, who had a complex relationship with organized religion throughout his life, sensed an inherent sanctity in reality—a quality he regarded as revelatory.
Section 1.1: The Foundations of Western Science
It is often overlooked that Western science's development is rooted in figures who were driven by a belief in the world as both revealed and understandable. This belief persists as a conviction, given that there is no compelling evidence to suggest that our evolutionary faculties possess any epistemological significance.
Moreover, our fundamental reactions to existence—such as wonder, awe, and an appreciation for the sheer beauty of the universe—remain elusive to straightforward explanation. What compels us to seek truth through the lens of beauty? Why would a tool-using species experience such wonder?
Subsection 1.1.1: The Role of Power in Scientific Inquiry
One explanation is power. If we view science merely as a vast mechanism for generating technology and healthcare, its process can be interpreted as an extension of a cynical survival instinct. However, the majority of those genuinely engaged in science prioritize truth as a core value. They recognize an intrinsic worth in understanding reality, not merely as a means to an end, but for its own sake.
Yet, in the public domain, science has become a cumbersome vehicle with significant public relations challenges. The frequent invocation of the phrase “follow the science” by politicians and media figures during the COVID pandemic—often in discussions that were inherently moral, political, and ethical—illustrates the confusion surrounding the purpose of science.
Section 1.2: The Confusion of Purpose in Modern Science
A significant issue arises from the era of “debunking” in which many public scientists participate. In this age, where meaning is largely excluded from scientific discourse, science has somewhat deflated its own credibility. Since science is deeply intertwined with a meaningful exploration of our existence, the dismissal of these meanings complicates its role. The slogan “follow the science” seems at odds with the notion that truth is more dynamic, moral, and subjective than the modern scientific lens typically suggests.
Chapter 2 Title: The Search for Meaning Beyond Science
The first video, "Raul Ponce-Hernandez, Measuring the Degradation of Ecosystem Health Caused by Climate Change," discusses the impacts of climate change on ecosystem health and offers insights into the importance of addressing environmental degradation.
The second video, "The Science Is Clear: How the Environment Affects Public Health in India," explores the connection between environmental factors and public health outcomes in India, highlighting critical issues that need addressing.
The challenge for contemporary thought lies in acknowledging forms of knowledge that transcend the purely objective. Muir's prose resonates because it embodies a poetic sensibility, invoking our subjectivity and celebrating the intricate connections among things—their profound intelligibility, holiness, and majesty.
However, such spiritual notions often provoke skepticism. Perhaps “spiritual” is the largest term we can comfortably use today, serving merely as an acknowledgment of transient feelings. This confusion reflects the reality that, despite its brilliance, science has yet to answer the fundamental human question of our purpose. If we begin to recognize that our quest for purpose initially drew us to science, we may gain a more insightful perspective: one that encompasses truth, beauty, and even love.
As public representatives of science, scientists themselves embody the meaning we ascribe to this field. Muir encapsulated this sentiment beautifully when he said:
“I am losing precious days. I am degenerating into a machine for making money. I am learning nothing in this trivial world of men. I must break away and get out into the mountains to learn the news.”