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"Americans like science. Overwhelming majorities say that science has had a positive effect on society and that science has made life easier for most people. "
http://people-press.org/report/528/
http://people-press.org/report/528/
Phrak said:I'd like to see the correlation with a similar poll concerning Pizza, pizza makers and pizza eaters.
Cyrus said:Expect for the fact that knowing how a pizza is made is irrelevant to how a society progresses and maintains its global influence, economy, and status.
Cyrus said:We need a cultural shift in thinking so that when people make statements such as:
"I'm bad at math"
or
"I don't like science"
they get a dirty look and the snide remark they deserve. I really can't think of many examples where science is thought of in a positive light.
Cyrus said:Knowing how a pizza is made is irrelevant to how a society progresses and maintains its global influence, economy, and status.
Cyrus said:You are quite right. Replace the first sentence to read:
Knowing how a pizza is made is irrelevant to how a society progresses and maintains its global influence, economy, and status. Therefore, I have no idea why you brought this up - or what intelligent point you are making.
Phrak said:The world does not revolve around science, no matter how much we might wish it. On the other hand Pizza is round, and can be delivered fresh in a matter of minutes.
mgb_phys said:"Americans like science. Overwhelming majorities say that science has had a positive effect on society and that science has made life easier for most people. "
http://people-press.org/report/528/
rootX said:Knowing how to cook food (pizza) is as relevant as knowing how politics, ethics/laws, businesses, languages, economics, and cultures work and contribute to the society progress/economic growth (but one does not need to know everything as far specialization is at work). Science is no different than other fields. Where would be the science if people simply don't have enough food to eat/money to spend (due to recession, politics or other reasons which might be caused due to people ignorance about those fields)?
TheStatutoryApe said:There are many people who are not interested in mathematics and science. Why ought they be deemed dispicable for this? The vast majority of people learn and pass high school through rote memorization without really learning the subject.* They just aren't all that smart. Its not their fault or anything that they ought to be blamed for.
*Edit: by the way do you want a source on that? ;-)
Cyrus said:It is vital that society be scientifically literate for its survival and furtherance into the future.
Phrak said:"Americans like pizza. Overwhelming majorities say that they like pizza and their friends like pizza too. Half-hour pizza delivery has made life easier for many people.
While the public holds scientists in high regard, many scientists offer unfavorable, if not critical, assessments of the public’s knowledge and expectations. Fully 85% see the public’s lack of scientific knowledge as a major problem for science, and nearly half (49%) fault the public for having unrealistic expectations about the speed of scientific achievements.
negitron said:If this were a true statement, then we wouldn't be here today, since the vast majority of society has never been scientifically literate throughout the entire span of human history. On this basis alone, your argument is invalidated.
Cyrus said:You failed to understand anything I said, and you are wrong. I said that science is the root cause that has allowed societies to progress and advance and maintain socio-economic power.
It is vital that society be scientifically literate for its survival and furtherance into the future.
Huckleberry said:There is a lot of science involved in getting that pizza to my door in 30 minutes or less; ...
Cyrus said:I'm not saying that they have to be interested in science, but they need to have an understanding of basic science, and -at the very least- what the scientific method is and what it means.
TheStatutoryApe said:You expect people to learn, understand, and still remember after high school their basic science even though they have no interest in it? Are there not things that you learned in high school or college that you had little interest in and only barely remember any of it?
Certainly its a good goal to shoot for but it does not seem to make much sense to hold these people in contempt for something that is only natural.
I might make arguements about the importance of things such as art to our modern society but I think I would be fully on the losing end of such an argument on this forum.
Pythagorean said:If it were one or the other, I'd prefer the company of socially intelligent people to scientifically intelligent ones. You can be good at math and have a good foundation in science, but it doesn't justify treating people like dirt, especially for having a different taste in knowledge than you.
Also, if you want to be able to survive independent of mainstream society, indigenous knowledge far outweighs scientific knowledge.
Chi Meson said:You appear to be suggesting that scientific intelligence and social capabilities are exclusive; they are not, and it should not be expected to be so.
Of course they don't. In fact very few people fall into any clear-cut category at all, including I and II in the above table.rootX said:I) Some people can be scientific intelligent but socially incapable.
II) Some people can be socially intelligent but have no scientific intelligence.
III) Some people are both scientifically and socially intelligent but not all people fall into this category.
Chi Meson said:Of course they don't. In fact very few people fall into any clear-cut category at all, including I and II in the above table.
As to Pythagoras' post, I think there was an implied reference within it that I didn't pick up on the first read.
One of the main reasons for Americans' interest in science is the emphasis placed on it in the education system. Science is seen as a key subject and is heavily promoted in schools and universities. Additionally, the media often highlights scientific discoveries and breakthroughs, which can pique people's curiosity and interest in the subject.
There are a few reasons why many Americans may struggle to understand science. One is the complexity of scientific concepts and terminology, which can be difficult for non-scientists to grasp. Another reason is the lack of emphasis on critical thinking and scientific literacy in the education system, leading to a lack of understanding and skepticism towards science.
To improve Americans' understanding of science, there needs to be a focus on promoting critical thinking and scientific literacy in schools. This can include incorporating more hands-on and interactive learning experiences, as well as teaching students how to evaluate and analyze scientific information. Additionally, promoting science communication and making scientific information more accessible and understandable to the general public can also help improve understanding.
The media plays a significant role in shaping Americans' understanding of science. The way scientific information is presented and communicated in the media can greatly influence public perception and understanding. However, the media often oversimplifies or sensationalizes scientific information, leading to misunderstandings and misconceptions about science.
The lack of understanding of science can have a significant impact on society. It can lead to the spread of misinformation and pseudoscience, which can have harmful effects on individuals and society as a whole. It can also hinder progress and innovation in fields such as healthcare, technology, and the environment. Therefore, promoting scientific literacy and understanding is crucial for the betterment of society.