首页
登录
职称英语
Public distrust of scientists stems in part from the blurring of boundaries
Public distrust of scientists stems in part from the blurring of boundaries
游客
2023-12-22
38
管理
问题
Public distrust of scientists stems in part from the blurring of boundaries between science and technology, between discovery and manufacture. Most governments, perhaps all governments, justifies public expenditure on scientific research in terms of the economic benefits the scientific enterprise has brought in the past and will bring in the future. Politicians remind their voters of the splendid machines "our scientists" have invented, the new drugs to relieve old ailments, and the new surgical equipment and techniques by which previously intractable conditions may now be treated and lives saved. At the same time, the politicians demand of scientists that they tailor their research to "economics needs", that they award a higher priority to research proposals that are "near the market" and can be translated into the greatest return on investment in the shortest time. Dependent, as they are, on politicians for much of their funding, scientists have little choice but to comply. Like the rest of us, they are members of a society that rates the creation of wealth as the greatest possible good. Many have reservations, but keep them to themselves in what they perceive as a climate hostile to the pursuit of understanding for its own sake and the idea of an inquiring, creative spirit.
In such circumstances no one should be too hard on people who are suspicious of conflicts of interest. When we learn that the distinguished professor assuring us of the safety of a particular product holds a consultancy with the company making it, we cannot be blamed for wondering whether his fee might conceivably cloud his professional judgment. Even if the professor holds no consultancy with any firm, some people many still distrust him because of his association with those who do, or at least wonder about the source of some his research funding.
This attitude can have damaging effects. It questions the integrity of individuals working in a profession that prizes intellectual honesty as the supreme virtue, and plays into the hands of those who would like to discredit scientists by representing them a venal. This makes it easier to dismiss all scientific pronouncements, but especially those made by the scientists who present themselves as "experts". The scientist most likely to understand the safety of a nuclear reactor, for example, is a nuclear engineer declares that a reactor is unsafe, we believe him, because clearly it is not to his advantage to lie about it. If he tells us it is safe, on the other hand, we distrust him, because he may well be protecting the employer who pays his salary. [br] Which of the following statements best summarizes the main idea of the passage?
选项
A、The reason for public distrust of scientists and its consequence.
B、Governmental intervention with the scientific research.
C、Economic factor decides the scientific research direction.
D、Distrust may dampen the enthusiasm of scientists for independent research.
答案
A
解析
转载请注明原文地址:https://tihaiku.com/zcyy/3296360.html
相关试题推荐
[originaltext]GlacierNationalParkinMontanasharesboundarieswithCanad
[originaltext]GlacierNationalParkinMontanasharesboundarieswithCanad
[originaltext]GlacierNationalParkinMontanasharesboundarieswithCanad
[originaltext]Italianscientistshaveraisednewhealthconcernsaboutthesafe
[originaltext]Italianscientistshaveraisednewhealthconcernsaboutthesafe
[originaltext]Italianscientistshaveraisednewhealthconcernsaboutthesafe
[originaltext]GlacierNationalParkinMontanasharesboundarieswithCanad
Whatisthespeaker’smaintopic?[br][originaltext]Italianscientistshav
Whatisthespeaker’smaintopic?[br][originaltext]Italianscientistshav
Whatisthespeaker’smaintopic?[br][originaltext]Italianscientistshav
随机试题
"TheEvolutionofBirds"TheOriginofBirdsAnalysisofbirdsandofrept
AGatedCommunityfarOrganDonorsAmericansloveasquare
Peopleoftenfocusonthejobandincomepotentialthatcomeswithacolleg
结构主义语言学的代表人物是()A.笛卡儿 B.萨特 C.罗兰·巴尔特 D
SF6密度继电器应装设在与断路器本体(____)运行环境温度的位置,以保证其报警
根据现行国家消防技术标准,下列净化或输送有爆炸危险粉尘和碎屑的设施上,不需要设置
某法院以诈骗罪判处周某有期徒刑4年并处罚金5万元,周某以无钱为由,拒绝交纳罚金。
某房地产开发商转让一块以出让方式取得的土地使用权,转让收入为2900万元,土地增
30岁,已婚妇女,停经48天,剧烈腹痛2天,阴道不规则流血1天,今晨从阴道排出三
男,2岁,发热伴咳嗽,诊断为肺炎链球菌肺炎。用抗生素治疗的疗程应持续至体温正常后
最新回复
(
0
)