"there is so much we don't know about the vaccine"

trashcan wrote:

I would hope that things would not be seen in terms of two sides. I prefer to think in terms of many dimensions. I dislike that our political structure is based on two parties, and hate the idea that it would be imposed on the scientific realm as well.

My understanding is that scientists have become more liberal over time. I was unable to find historical data to support that point when I did some quick research(I see data from 2009) One issue that I see, is that the Republican Party has become more affiliated with fundamentalist Christianity over the past 40 years. There are certain issues where religious beliefs may impact what is seen as acceptable science. Any conflict in this regard could lower scientists’ regard for the Republican Party, which could then further republicans distrust of the scientists, leading to a positive feedback loop. I am interested in finding a way out of that loop, but I don’t see anything that looks so straightforward. Would funding creationist research help the interactions? I would have a hard time accepting that as a use of my tax money, and I would foresee the results having no impact on our current understanding.

Lead Foil Hat wrote:

trashcan wrote:

I would hope that things would not be seen in terms of two sides. I prefer to think in terms of many dimensions. I dislike that our political structure is based on two parties, and hate the idea that it would be imposed on the scientific realm as well.

My understanding is that scientists have become more liberal over time. I was unable to find historical data to support that point when I did some quick research(I see data from 2009) One issue that I see, is that the Republican Party has become more affiliated with fundamentalist Christianity over the past 40 years. There are certain issues where religious beliefs may impact what is seen as acceptable science. Any conflict in this regard could lower scientists’ regard for the Republican Party, which could then further republicans distrust of the scientists, leading to a positive feedback loop. I am interested in finding a way out of that loop, but I don’t see anything that looks so straightforward. Would funding creationist research help the interactions? I would have a hard time accepting that as a use of my tax money, and I would foresee the results having no impact on our current understanding.

I don't think the political split among scientists is any different than the nation at large. That has not been my experience. I think the liberal-science connection is a bit of a myth and a political ploy. You will also find that in the US many (definitely not all) of the foreign researchers are more conservative; yes, some groups were certainly offended by Trump's more USA focused stance, but outside of this scope many have conservative views in regards to economics, family values, religion, hard work, etc. In addition, most scientists are skeptics of much of the science out there, which should be natural as the scientist is constantly questioning and questioning what we understand and the status quo. Political liberalism has sort of turned "Science" into a dogmatic entity that is just really is not; the level of certainty in real science is just not as the same level of absolutism portrayed as "liberal science". The respond to your creationism question, I mean I don't think you will ever see that many studies funded as there really is not much to go on with what we know about the world. We certainly could all have been created by something all at once, by what though...who knows; if you consider the concept of simulation theory as worthy, this really is the same as creationism. That said, I would rather see a study in that context rather than something trying to prove biblical text....I think is pretty well understood that much of the bible is either historical book keeping or allegory rather than fact; again, who know. If we are in a sim, the authors may have written it all out in a book to keep us informed eh?

Lead Foil Hat wrote:

trashcan wrote:

I would hope that things would not be seen in terms of two sides. I prefer to think in terms of many dimensions. I dislike that our political structure is based on two parties, and hate the idea that it would be imposed on the scientific realm as well.

My understanding is that scientists have become more liberal over time. I was unable to find historical data to support that point when I did some quick research(I see data from 2009) One issue that I see, is that the Republican Party has become more affiliated with fundamentalist Christianity over the past 40 years. There are certain issues where religious beliefs may impact what is seen as acceptable science. Any conflict in this regard could lower scientists’ regard for the Republican Party, which could then further republicans distrust of the scientists, leading to a positive feedback loop. I am interested in finding a way out of that loop, but I don’t see anything that looks so straightforward. Would funding creationist research help the interactions? I would have a hard time accepting that as a use of my tax money, and I would foresee the results having no impact on our current understanding.

I don't think the political split among scientists is any different than the nation at large. That has not been my experience. I think the liberal-science connection is a bit of a myth and a political ploy. You will also find that in the US many (definitely not all) of the foreign researchers are more conservative; yes, some groups were certainly offended by Trump's more USA focused stance, but outside of this scope many have conservative views in regards to economics, family values, religion, hard work, etc. In addition, most scientists are skeptics of much of the science out there, which should be natural as the scientist is constantly questioning and questioning what we understand and the status quo. Political liberalism has sort of turned "Science" into a dogmatic entity that is just really is not; the level of certainty in real science is just not as the same level of absolutism portrayed as "liberal science". The respond to your creationism question, I mean I don't think you will ever see that many studies funded as there really is not much to go on with what we know about the world. We certainly could all have been created by something all at once, by what though...who knows; if you consider the concept of simulation theory as worthy, this really is the same as creationism. That said, I would rather see a study in that context rather than something trying to prove biblical text....I think is pretty well understood that much of the bible is either historical book keeping or allegory rather than fact; again, who know. If we are in a sim, the authors may have written it all out in a book to keep us informed eh?