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
34
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 is closest to the meaning of "present" in paragraph 3?
选项
A、To speak, act or be present officially for another person or people.
B、To be the result of something.
C、To describe or depict.
D、To be a sign or symbol of something.
答案
C
解析
转载请注明原文地址:https://tihaiku.com/zcyy/3296364.html
相关试题推荐
Scientistsaremakinghugestridesinbattlingoneofthetopthreekillerdisea
Toweakenthedamageforearthquakes,scientistsareworkingonwaystoenablea
Underthecircumstanceofanewmediaage,emergenciesofpublichealthcanbem
ScientistshaveunlockedtheaestheticmysterybydetermininghowLeonardoDaVi
Thefactorywaspublicly________bytheEnvironmentalProtectionAgencyforhavin
Publicopinionisfickleandmoresoinanationlikeourswhereilliteracyand
Onceagain,thisassumptionisimplausible.Thepublicwillnotbeoutragedifi
[originaltext]GlacierNationalParkinMontanasharesboundarieswithCanad
[originaltext]GlacierNationalParkinMontanasharesboundarieswithCanad
[originaltext]Italianscientistshaveraisednewhealthconcernsaboutthesafe
随机试题
It’shardtomissthem:theepitomeofcasual"geekchic"andorganizedwith
HavingKidsMakesYouHappy?[A]WhenIwasgrowingup,our
运输通道形成后,随着规模经济的发展,地区间物资交流量的增加,会出现两个集约化趋势
《故都的秋》一文主要描绘了()A.南国的秋 B.北京的秋色 C.北国的景
A.下颌第一磨牙 B.上颌中切牙 C.上颌第一磨牙 D.下颌第二双尖牙
已知向量a=(1,-1),,则t=A、-2? B、0或-2 C、2? D、
以前经历过的事物的形象或概念的形式在头脑中重新出现的过程叫()。A.记忆 B.
关于影响药物组织分布的因素,说法不正确的是A.体内血液循环的速度 B.毛细血管
从所给的四个选项中,选择最合适的一个填入问号处,使之呈现一定的规律性: A.如
进口设备采用装运港船上交货价(FOB)时,买方需承担的责任包括()。A.租
最新回复
(
0
)