Abstract
Scientific orthodoxy based on the acquired authority of some scientists has seriously hampered the progress of the natural sciences in the past and continues to do so today because of new societal influences, such as directive funding and political interference in the setting of research objectives. Enhancing the progress of science must continue to be an important priority in order to meet the future needs of mankind. Yet priority setting between different branches of research is currently controversial because of the limited availability of funds and the political interference. For sound priority setting, an adequate level of scientific literacy is required among policy makers, a subject that will attract attention throughout this paper. The “introduction” gives an overview of the issues at stake. Prevailing pessimistic views of the future of our complex society are viewed as being similar to a medieval doomsday syndrome. Pathways to a new renaissance and age of reason are suggested. Three major recommendations are made: (i) Freedom of inquiry must be protected; (ii) The political misuse of potential environmental scares needs to be investigated before doomsday predictions alarm public perceptions and hence shape policies; (iii) The search for excellence in the leadership of science should be emphasized because it should not be based largely on acquired authority. The current controversy over possible impacts of rising levels of CO2 in the atmosphere on climate is analyzed as a case study.
Highlights
Over its long history, progress in the natural sciences has at various times accelerated and decelerated and has not always been consistent across its different fields
The foundations of modern physics were no doubt laid in the 19th century, but the field grew in the 20th into a primary discipline contributing to all today’s basic natural sciences, astronomy, chemistry and biology
In any of its forms, is not necessarily the primary drive of the more modest scientist, who is largely motivated by curiosity and who draws attention to his insights in order to stimulate further discussion in the service of the progress of science. He is not so much occupied with his own view on what he considers to be the scientific truth as with further truth-finding through dialogue with colleagues. He is at the same time open to cross-fertilization by new ideas which breach the borders of specific disciplines such as physics, chemistry and biology, a development mentioned in Section 2.6 as a recent achievement in science
Summary
Progress in the natural sciences has at various times accelerated and decelerated and has not always been consistent across its different fields. A leading, and perhaps prophetic, voice is Aldous Huxley, who is best known for his book “Brave New World” (1932) and, in our own times, a kind of doomsday syndrome emerges Writers such as Umberto Eco (1986) and Roberto Vacca (2000) like us to believe that we are entering a new “dark age”, taking a backward step from what they see as an age of science and empirical observation. This essay will present a comparison between today’s scientific approaches and those which produced the major discoveries of the Enlightenment and earlier history In this context it will go on to discuss the main issues that threaten the progress of science. Wrong directions in scientific practices which occurred in the past were eventually corrected, so it is optimistically suggested that today’s can likewise be overcome
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
