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Research or not?

 
 
[siddhartha]
17:04 / 05.01.04
Hey, I'm a new poster to Barbelith and I'm loving it so far.

I've been celebrating our 'conquest' of Mars for the past couple of days, until an uncle of mine came over and started complaining about science and scientific research. According to him, we should focus less on scientific research and 'useless junk' like sending people into space, and use the funding for more pressing issues like easing poverty and things like that. Unfortunately, I couldn't think up an argument to convince my uncle quick enough.

How would you respond to such an allegation? Would you agree with it? If so, why? If not, then why is scientific research important?
 
 
Linus Dunce
11:30 / 06.01.04
Well, in my experience people who say this kind of thing generally aren't receptive to economic or military arguments for space exploration.

So you could say, "well, I'll give up space exploration when you give up all the 'unnecessary' expenditures in your life, like novels, TV, movies, sugar, spices, paint, dyes, music, sculpture, art, poetry, meat, recreational travel, cosmetics, razors and contraceptives."
 
 
Jack Fear
12:32 / 06.01.04
Right. The trap is in thinking that is has to be either/or, of thinking of money as a finite resource. It just ain't so.
 
  
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