Theory of Knowledge - Course Companion for Students Marija Uzunova Dang Arvin Singh Uzunov Dang

II. Perspectives
terms: Symphony of
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playlist YouTube
Science
can assess the clip’s artistic status and
You
using tools from Chapter 10.
merit
science programming can run the risk
Popular
presenting an idealized image of science —
of
the heroic onward march, self-correcting
as
course, relentless in its mission of
its
the dark corners of the
illuminating
problematic narrative dealt
unknown—a
this idealized image, realistic
Against
of scientific practice can seem
coverage
suspicious and even
incongruous,
Public disagreement among
disenchanting.
can shatter the illusion that the
scientists
of truth through science naturally
pursuit
consensus. One of the hallmarks of
creates
post-truth public sphere, considered in
the
2, is diminished trust in scientific
Chapter
Discourses on statistical significance,
experts.
levels and tolerance intervals may
confidence
with an idealized narrative of certainty
clash
“proven” truths. All of these, alongside
and
but highly publicized instances of
rarer
fraud or malpractice, can erode the
scientific
image of science. Science, we must
public
decades of effort by governments and
After
scientific institutions, what progress
laudable
been made? Results vary around the globe,
has
into local stereotypes around race,
playing
and social status. In 1959, the author CP
gender
wrote the following.
Snow
this happen today? Snow and others
Would
the lack of interest and knowledge of
lamented
More recently, though, it is the humanities
science.
are being defunded at universities. Have the
that
turned, or is a different story playing out
tables
academia versus in the public discourse? What
in
of scientific ideas that are
Examples
to be ready for retirement were
considered
in II.3. This time, explore what 200
explored
minds from around the world think
bright
the question “What scientific term or
about
ought to be more widely known?”
concepts
terms: Edge 2017
Search
terms more widely
Scientific
a few of the entries and try to
Choose
why the contributors think those
understand
deserve better exposure. Work in a pair
ideas
small group, with each person presenting
or
argument about why the ideas you have
an
are not better known.
chosen
7
A good many times, I have been present at gatherings
of people who, by the standards of the traditional
culture, are thought highly educated and who have
with considerable gusto been expressing their
incredulity at the illiteracy of scientists. Once or twice
I have been provoked and have asked the company
how many of them could describe the Second Law
of Thermodynamics. The response was cold: it was
also negative. Yet I was asking something which is
the scientic equivalent of: Have you read a work of
Shakespeare’s?
(Snow 1959)
are theimplications?
For discussion
with earlier in this chapter.
Have you heard this?
known
remember, is a very human endeavour.
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