Weird Science

I'm not the only one who thinks quantum mechanics and cosmology slops over into philosophy and possibly theology:

Anderson cited quantum mechanics as a realm of science so fantastic as to have supernatural connotations to the average individual. Quantum physicists distinguish virtual particles from real particles, blame the collapse of the wave function on their inability to tell us where the matter of our universe is at any time, and tell us that in parallel universes we may have actually dated the most popular cheerleader or football quarterback in high school, whereas in this mundane universe, we did not. It is all relative. Ghosts are a fairly predictable phenomenon compared to the we-calculated-it-but-you-cannot-sense-it world of quantum physics. Most people will agree that ghosts are the souls of the departed, but quantum physicists cannot agree on where antimatter goes. It is there but it is not. Pseudoscientific and paranormal beliefs provide a sense of order and comfort to those who hold them, giving us control over the unknown. It is not surprising that such beliefs continue to flourish in a world as utterly fantastic as ours.

Even more fascinating were the findings of a study showing that "Scientists and science educators (1) have high levels of paranormal and pseudoscientific belief, (2) do not use their scientific knowledge when voting, (3) use nonscientific approaches in personal and social decision-making, and (4) do not have high levels of science content knowledge outside of their specific disciplines."

You can make the human being a scientist, but you can't take the human being out of the equation. People seem to believe goofy things because they need to, or want to, or just like the story. Poor Carl Sagan. And Bob Park too. Maybe I was wrong about all that higher ed making scientists more appropriate policers of their own work. {Sigh} More clay feet. Disillusionment finds me everywhere.

Comments

[Terri]

Skeptical Enquirer! I didn't know you read that. I used to sub to it, but it was one of the many things I had to give up in order to go back to school in the 90s.

Mark is pretty much finished with Greene's "Fabric of the Cosmos" and is enjoying it very much -- it validates much of what that article said. I'm next on the list to read it, and can't wait.