There are two parts to the human dilemma. One is the belief that the end justifies the means. That push-button philosophy, that deliberate deafness to suffering, has become the monster in the war machine. The other is the betrayal of the human spirit: the assertion of dogma that closes the mind, and turns a nation, a civilization, into a regiment of ghosts – obedient ghosts, or tortured ghosts.
It’s said that science will dehumanize people and turn them into numbers. That’s false, tragically false. Look for yourself. This is the concentration camp and crematorium at Auschwitz. This is where people were turned into numbers. Into this pond were flushed the ashes of some four million people. And that was not done by gas. It was done by arrogance, it was done by dogma, it was done by ignorance. When people believe that they have absolute knowledge, with no test in reality, this is how they behave. This is what men do when they aspire to the knowledge of gods.
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Watching the wonderful series called the Ascent of Man
by Jacob Bronowski. Standing in a concentration camp, Bronowski made a observation which applies today to those who wish to vilify science and education while insisting their religious viewpoints are absolute:
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7 comments:
The Nazis made use of science and scientists in their war and extermination campaign.
Science without human values is terrifying indeed.
Bronowski was speaking to the reasons behind the misuse of science. The reason Nazis decided to use Jews and undesirables as a scapegoat. The hatred of others where all things got warped. Science in its pure form is beautiful. Science used without true humane values is truly terrifying.
I don't know what science "in its pure form" is. Empirical science is a method, and a good one, for discovery. However all that can be discovered should not be used. Were the Nazi "twin" experiments good science? How was it not science "in its pure form," simply divorced of human values?
To bring the matter back to the present, what is the value of science used for nuclear energy? And what is the value of suppressing Tesla's and Reich's work in the "peer-review" community?
Omg, mahakal, I have no idea. You have obviously delved deeper into such philosophies and I must stop with my generalities!
I was speaking to people like this who hate and fear education, intelligence, science, the ability to question...
I won't go to pharyngula's blog, he who legitimated violence against those who hold views he considers stupid.
PZ Myers: "I say, screw the polite words and careful rhetoric. It's time for scientists to break out the steel-toed boots and brass knuckles, and get out there and hammer on the lunatics and idiots. If you don't care enough for the truth to fight for it, then get out of the way."
This is Fundamentalist Scientism.
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