Postscript: Political
Science
An important scientific innovation rarely makes its way by
gradually winning over and converting its opponents: it
rarely happens that Saul becomes Paul. What does happen
is that its opponents gradually die out and that the
growing generation is familiarized with the idea from the
beginning.
—Max Planck
Dispassionate philosopher inquiring into nature from the sheer love of
knowledge, single-minded alchemist
puttering about a secluded base-
ment in search of elixirs to benefit all humanity—these ideals no longer
fit most scientists. Even the stereotype of Faust dreaming of demonic
power is outdated, for most scientists today are overspecialized and
anonymous—although science as a whole is somewhat Mephistophelian
in its disregard for the effects of its knowledge. It's a ponderous beast,
making enormous changes in the way we live but agonizingly slow to
change its own habits and viewpoints when they become outmoded.
The public's conception of the scientist remains closest to its image of
the philosopher—cold and logical, making decisions solely on the basis
of the facts, unswayed by emotion. The lay person's most
common fear
about scientists is that they lack human feelings. During my twenty-five