They're Playing Our Song!

Managed to find a discussion on SciAm related to our long-standing discussion over whether or not fundamental research (really, we mean physics research) merits effort and resources, particularly in a world where not everyone has an minimally acceptable, let alone fair, standard of living.

I think the author and one of the posters conflates the question of whether or not physics is a useful undertaking with whether or not physicists seek to better the world - the two are totally different questions! The former has been addressed before (and I won't do it again at this time), but the latter is, I believe, especially pernicious in the context of asking whether or not pure science is useful. Regardless of the utility of beanie babies, reality TV and earrings, we never ask whether toymakers, TV producers or jewelers enter their profession because they want to make the world a better place. People choose careers for three reasons - money, status and/or because they find the work personally fulfilling. Hardly anyone actually chooses their career out of a sense of duty or need to improve the world (I say this noting that the number of emergency response technicians and humanitarian workers make up a fairly small subsection of the workforce). Why, then, should scientists be held to that standard?

There's a few other interesting statements on that page. Ex. "The mark of a thriving civilization is how much it values curiosity and creativity for its own sake, whether it be science, art, music, literature — any of those 'impractical' 'frivolous' activities that enrich all our lives."

Discuss.

Charles

P.S. The title is a reference to the fact that someone else is discussing something that re-appears frequently in my conversations.