I saw this article and the response below it in the Chronicle (article, May 1 and letter response today) and I thought that it was about as well-crafted a response as you could get. <i>U .S . science literacy low , psychic beliefs common, studysays By PAUL RECER Associated Press WASHINGTON - Few Americans understand the scientific process and many believe in mysterious psychic powers and may be quick to accept phony science reports, according to a national survey. The survey, part of the National Science Foundation's biennial report on the state of science understanding, research, education and investment, found that the belief in "pseudoscience" is common in America. The study found that science literacy has improved only slightly since the previous survey and that 70 percent of American adults do not understand the scientific process. America continues to lead the world, the study found, in scientific investment, in research and development and in technology advances. But it found weakness in some levels of scientific education and noted that the U .S . continues to depend heavily on foreign-born scientists and now faces increased competition from steadily improving scientific enterprises abroad. In the survey of American attitudes toward science , the study found that doctors and scientists were the most respected of the professions, but it also found that "belief in pseudoscience is relatively widespread and growing." A survey of 1,574 adults found that 60 percent agreed or strongly agreed that some people possess psychic powers or extrasensory perception, a premise that is generally discarded as unproven by most scientists. Although 57 percent of those surveyed disagreed that UFOs came to Earth bearing aliens, about 30 percent believe that some reported objects in the sky are really space vehicles from other civilizations. The scientific validity of astrology - the belief that an alignment of the planets can affect events on Earth - is rejected by 60 percent of Americans, as is the idea that some numbers are lucky while others are not. But 43 percent say they still read the astrology charts at least occasionally in the newspaper. Seventy-seven percent of those surveyed believe in the theory of global warming, that the planet is being heated by an excess of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. In response to a separate questions, 86 percent said global warming is a serious or "somewhat serious" problem. Americans were almost evenly divided about genetic engineering - the modifying of life forms by manipulating the genes. Forty percent thought the science would produce more good than bad effects, but 33 percent feared that there would be more harm than benefit. About 48 percent of those surveyed said they were moderately or strongly opposed to the cloning of barnyard animals, even if the technique was used to make drugs to treat humans. The new science was supported by 47 percent, making opinions almost evenly divided. Most Americans, about 59 percent, were comfortable with using mice in laboratory experiments, but the opinions shifted dramatically when the question was using dogs or chimpanzees in the scientific research instead of mice. About 53 percent of those surveyed disagreed with allowing scientists to experiment with dogs or chimps in medical research, while 44 percent said it was OK.</i> ----------------------------- Response: <i>God, UFOs and science In the Chronicle's May 1 article, "U.S. science literacy low, psychic beliefs common, a study says," the National Science Foundation has found that most Americans are functionally illiterate when it comes to science. These findings may be correct, but the NSF should not assume that holding personal beliefs generally discarded as "unproven by most scientists" necessarily indicates such illiteracy. The NSF points to the 60 percent of respondents who accept the possibility of psychic, extrasensory abilities as indicative of ignorance and a misunderstanding of the scientific method. Same for the 30 percent who leave open the idea that some unidentified flying objects might be extraterrestrial in origin. Both beliefs are obviously considered antithetical to sound science. However, "unproven" does not always mean untrue. I'm sure the producers of this survey feel the same contempt for Americans who profess a belief in a "mythological, non-physical superbeing, never proven by science" (God). But, of course, the survey did not include such an inflammatory question. It is less acceptable to mock religion openly than it is to make sport of such "nutty" topics as extrasensory perception and UFOs. As for the scientific method, it does not include rejecting a hypothesis based upon pre-existing bias. True science is open to all possibilities until disproven, not closed to anything not yet confirmed either way, i.e., unproven. Since most scientists don't consider psychic phenomenon, UFOs or God worthy of serious study, and hence have little or no data to examine, they are in no position to draw conclusions regarding the validity of these phenomena. In the meantime, the NSF should spare us its condescension. Respondent Name Withheld</i>
He seems to have a real problem with the “discarded as unproven by most scientists” bit, even though it was obviously written by the author of the article, rather than taken from the report. Pseudoscience is defined in the report as: "claims presented so that they appear [to be] scientific even though they lack supporting evidence and plausibility.” Science is defined in the report as: “ set of methods designed to describe and interpret observed and inferred phenomena, past or present, and aimed at building a testable body of knowledge open to rejection or confirmation.” Astrology, UFO encounters, and psychic phenomena are pseudoscientific given these definitions. This is not an assertion that they have no basis in reality, but that they have no scientific basis. Since god belief is neither science nor pseudoscience, the omission of questions on the topic is understandable. (Even though we all know that scientists are godless heathens who are trying to steal our magic bags.)
I think the concern, and I share it, is that the scientific community is using the "this is just silly" doctrine to dismiss things. In science, I understand and respect that things are tested and refuted. However, when you simply cannot test for the existence of something, you cannot disprove it, therefore, you cannot completely dismiss its validity. I don't have a problem saying something doesn't exist if you can scientifically prove it, but if you can't, you need to lay off. I didn't hear any of the scientists in this study claiming that because most people believe in God, they are stupid and uneducated. God can't be proven either. The worry I have is that science has no wonder, no spirit of discovery any longer. Albert Einstein is probably rolling over in his grave. It is as if scientists are more concerned with protecting the findings they already have rather than discovering other possibilities. That's not science. It's religion.
That's an interesting point Jeff. Einstein grew up in a world where we didn't believe that we knew how it works. That makes the world a scary place to live in. We grew up in a world where there is a scientific theory to explain most natural phenomena, and kids are taught to believe theories as facts. The world as such is a much more comforting place. Unfortunately, it also leads to people and scientists with very closed minds. Some valid scientific research can't get funding (there are many documented cases of this) because the ideas behind the research go against the current thinking on a particular subject.
Good read. I have recently figured out that one thing that sets me off more than anything is arrogance. I get tired of the "How dare you question me" attitude, regardless of the field of study.
