The Politicization of Science

[Exarch]

my friends
i write to you all in regards to a rather troubling phenomena that has occurred throughout history, and is occurring now as we speak.
i speak of the politicization of science, no matter which field.
a historical exmple would be the application of darwinism to nazi policies in the 30s and 40s, but the most recent salient example i can think of is the current issue of space exploration and research.
the exclusion of china from the ISS back in '05 at the behest of the united states, since it's no secret that china is an emerging superpower; i mean sure consider military secrets and whatnot but this is space exploration we're talking about!
i propose in this case, a UN mandated space agency dedicated towards space exploration to be funded by all security council members, permanent or otherwise. knowledge is key for our astronauts' survival in space and i see no point in why each nation should re-invent the wheel when it comes to space exploration.
Stop the damn factionalisms and stop the damn nationalization of science in general!!

discuss

[Kiljan Arslan]

Oh that be fun the UN! Chances of it ever getting sanything up into space? 0!

Not that I don't support it not doing anything.

[roy34543]

The UN creating a comitee for it would result in more politics involved.
Before you know it theres human rights council for space travel a non-discrimination group and a think-tank to block countries at war to create even more problems and complications.
Best thing you could do is give power to a country thats small irrelevent and that nobody cares about. Before you know it theyre not even looking at who gets passes for doing whatever they want

[Kiljan Arslan]

yeah and those countries would just give the UN the bird.

[Senno]

The politicization of science is dangerous. If we can't count on an unbiased opinion from a scientist, we can't count on anything.

Hmm, cheaper satellite launches might be nice. They cost a bundle now. Does China have any interest in participating in the International Space Station?

China should fairly license the technology and respect patents and IPR's, that's a massive issue in continuing negotiations with China.

A huge issue as well is the military implications of the technology. Is giving China IBM's absent the warhead a wise idea?

[Exarch]

the UN idea was jsut food for thought.
but yes, in ref. to space science, the politicization is a bit of a niggly troubly bit when it comes to the pursuit of knowledge.
another area of where science becomes politicized would be medicine

[Senno]

the UN idea was jsut food for thought.
but yes, in ref. to space science, the politicization is a bit of a niggly troubly bit when it comes to the pursuit of knowledge.
another area of where science becomes politicized would be medicine

Yeah, it should not happen. Scares me. The Food and Drug Administration approving medicines, etc for other than pure science is not a good thing.

[Exarch]

Yeah, it should not happen. Scares me. The Food and Drug Administration approving medicines, etc for other than pure science is not a good thing.

true
check out the controversial nature of Gardasil's mandation in texas by governor rick perry (and his close links with merck)

[Xan]

Science shud be above politics and religion.

[Exarch]

when i say 'politicization of science', i'm referring to a tendency for some politicians/scientists to use (often questionable) studies with which to buttress their own already-formed opinions and biases.

[Senno]

when i say 'politicization of science', i'm referring to a tendency for some politicians/scientists to use (often questionable) studies with which to buttress their own already-formed opinions and biases.

Right. It's the use of selective evidence that is horrible.

[Dracula]

As far as I am aware,science is free in a free and morall society. I mean the scientists must be morall themselves to decline ammorall proposals. They must be also free from suppression,something which becomes more and more unsure today. Because there are many ways you can influence somebody,even in generall. So basically from the scientists is demanded what is demanded from the priests.

Just look how they suppressed the discoverer of the most important part of DNA. The white who said it is possble to be genetic difference between the races in such a way that the negroes are predisposed to stupidity. Instead of granting him the most suitable and better conditions from before to carry out the most exact and peacefull research,he was fired and a book of his was banned.

[Exarch]

As far as I am aware,science is free in a free and morall society. I mean the scientists must be morall themselves to decline ammorall proposals. They must be also free from suppression,something which becomes more and more unsure today. Because there are many ways you can influence somebody,even in generall. So basically from the scientists is demanded what is demanded from the priests.

Just look how they suppressed the discoverer of the most important part of DNA. The white who said it is possble to be genetic difference between the races in such a way that the negroes are predisposed to stupidity. Instead of granting him the most suitable and better conditions from before to carry out the most exact and peacefull research,he was fired and a book of his was banned.

and just like science today is politicized, i'm going to require u to provide proof for your claims with sources.
i do understand where you're coming from though; in the health field, ppl get antsy when u say somthing like 'african americans are more susceptible to diabetes', so instead you're forced to make the clarification that 'certian individuals are more genetically predisposed towards diseases like diabetes' etc