Theory of Knowledge - Course Companion for Students Marija Uzunova Dang Arvin Singh Uzunov Dang
huge amounts of scientific knowledgeWithpaywalls or otherwise inaccessiblebehindto jargon, the question of publicduetakes on great significance.communicationthe aim of science is to find and promoteIfunderstanding of life, the world and theanan understanding that would be ofcosmos,to all, should it be accessible to all?interestanswer might be yes, but one issue isTheneed to reward scientific“incentives“—theand corporations that take risks bypioneerstheir time or money to do research.investing2019 the University of California madeInfor dropping its $10 million per yearheadlinesto Elsevier, a publishing companysubscriptionowns over 2,500 scientific journalsthatincidentally, the journal Medical(including,discussed in the Duesberg caseHypothesesThe university’s argument was simple:earlier).should not cost that much. Indeed,knowledgescientists never get paid for their research,mostthe scientific publishing business maintainsbutof the highest profit margins in thesomeFollow the link to this article by Stephenworld.for UK newspaper the Guardian: “IsBuryanistaggeringly profitable business of scientifictheterms: BuryaniSearchprofitable businessStaggeringlypeople agree on the benefit of cultivating aMostinterest in science. One example is sciencepublicwhich can collect money to fundmuseums,and inspire people to pursue furtherresearch,study, careers or at the least to be morescientificto science and more sceptical of dogma.openfestivals, museums, university openScienceand various forms of media are all part ofdaysscience communication landscape for thetheaudience. Sociocultural contextnon-scientista large role in determining the methodplaysobjective of science communication. Forandscience communication duringexample,Cold War was very different fromtheabout global warming, in termscommunicationwho is communicating, what, to whom andofnature or details of thescience itself, and aretherelevant toTOK.particularlyto publicize and popularize science haveEffortsin place since Victorian times. How thisbeenis done has been transitioningcommunicationof a “deficit model” to more participatoryoutDeficit models set out to educate anmodels.uninformed and distrustful publicassumedlyin a top-down way that emphasized theaudienceof scientific experts. It was also called“authority”push for “scientific literacy”, and the paradigmacommunication in the 1980s and1990s.forrecently, we have seen a change towardsMorethe public with science, and evenengagingscience, a relatively new practice that incitizenways marks a return to the idea of sciencesomeby nature-loving amateurs, like a moredoneversion of the “gentleman scientists”diversethe 18th and 19th centuries. Citizen scienceofthe boundaries between scientist andblursand science enthusiasts havenon-scientist,involved in many fields from classifyingbeencase of the pioneering scientist-freediversTheare working to decode the communicationwhoof whales, and who are in importantsystemsoutpacing marine biologists, is discussed inwaysis common for science to be communicatedItscientists, or on their behalf by sciencebyin order to inspire enthusiasmevangelists,trust in science. Carl Sagan’s Cosmos wasandfor an entire generation and evokesformativeeven today. Sir David Attenborough’snostalgiaon the natural world is similarlyreportingand iconic. Using the link here,influentialcan watch and hear both of them sing,youin the YouTube miracle that is theautotuned,II. PerspectivesII. PerspectivesScience communication is the “organized, explicit,and intended actions that aim to communicatescientic knowledge, methodology, processes,or practices in settings where nonscientists are arecognized part of the audiences”. (Horst et al 2017)publishing bad for science?” (27 June 2017).of scientific publishing Guardiangalaxies to bird population surveys.Chapter 4, III.3.“Symphony of Science”.for what purpose. These questions go beyond183
II. Perspectivesterms: Symphony ofSearchplaylist YouTubeSciencecan assess the clip’s artistic status andYouusing tools from Chapter 10.meritscience programming can run the riskPopularpresenting an idealized image of science —ofthe heroic onward march, self-correctingascourse, relentless in its mission ofitsthe dark corners of theilluminatingproblematic narrative dealtunknown—athis idealized image, realisticAgainstof scientific practice can seemcoveragesuspicious and evenincongruous,Public disagreement amongdisenchanting.can shatter the illusion that thescientistsof truth through science naturallypursuitconsensus. One of the hallmarks ofcreatespost-truth public sphere, considered inthe2, is diminished trust in scientificChapterDiscourses on statistical significance,experts.levels and tolerance intervals mayconfidencewith an idealized narrative of certaintyclash“proven” truths. All of these, alongsideandbut highly publicized instances ofrarerfraud or malpractice, can erode thescientificimage of science. Science, we mustpublicdecades of effort by governments andAfterscientific institutions, what progresslaudablebeen made? Results vary around the globe,hasinto local stereotypes around race,playingand social status. In 1959, the author CPgenderwrote the following.Snowthis happen today? Snow and othersWouldthe lack of interest and knowledge oflamentedMore recently, though, it is the humanitiesscience.are being defunded at universities. Have thethatturned, or is a different story playing outtablesacademia versus in the public discourse? Whatinof scientific ideas that areExamplesto be ready for retirement wereconsideredin II.3. This time, explore what 200exploredminds from around the world thinkbrightthe question “What scientific term oraboutought to be more widely known?”conceptsterms: Edge 2017Searchterms more widelyScientifica few of the entries and try toChoosewhy the contributors think thoseunderstanddeserve better exposure. Work in a pairideassmall group, with each person presentingorargument about why the ideas you haveanare not better known.chosen7A good many times, I have been present at gatheringsof people who, by the standards of the traditionalculture, are thought highly educated and who havewith considerable gusto been expressing theirincredulity at the illiteracy of scientists. Once or twiceI have been provoked and have asked the companyhow many of them could describe the Second Lawof Thermodynamics. The response was cold: it wasalso negative. Yet I was asking something which isthe scientic equivalent of: Have you read a work ofShakespeare’s?(Snow 1959)are theimplications?For discussionwith earlier in this chapter.Have you heard this?knownremember, is a very human endeavour.184
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II. Perspectives
terms: Symphony of
Search
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.
184