sorry that chart didn't come through right. here's the link, it's easier
http://www.religioustolerance.org/ev_publi.htm it shows the percentage by
groups of Americans that believes in creationism. if the general public
could tell what makes an expert credible, someone else would be president.
take care
susan
----- Original Message -----
From: "Chris Peterson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com>
Sent: Thursday, August 09, 2007 6:50 PM
Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Family Claims
MeteoriteFellInTheirCourtyardinIndia
Hi Svend-
I think it relates to cultural differences, which are real if somewhat
politically incorrect to acknowledge. Russia has a long history of
accepting pseudoscience inside its mainstream scientific and educational
communities- something that continues to this day. Research into
paranormal phenomena, bizarre medical theories, astrology, and the like is
carried out by workers at universities to this day. This carries on a
tradition dating back to Lysenko, arguably Velikovsky (who left Russia but
was the product of a Russian education), and much of the Russian research
into Tunguska. Many scientists in Russia recognize that this is a huge
problem facing their science system as a whole- that not only is the
public unable to distinguish between science and pseudoscience, but
neither can many formal educational institutions.
My own extensive experience with Indian scientists suggests that many seem
to have rather odd ideas that are not consistent with science, although
that does not in general prevent them from carrying out high quality
scientific work. I've also seen a lack of recognition in the public for
the concept of scientific specialties- so that anybody branded a
"scientist", regardless of field, may be taken as an expert in any
scientific matter. I expect something like that is what happens with these
exceedingly poor meteor/meteorite reports we see coming out of India.
Of course, such things happen in all countries, but seem to be more common
in some than in others.
While I strongly doubt that anywhere near half the U.S. population
believes in a young Earth, it is certainly too many. But the quality of
science in the U.S. is very high- the best in the world IMO. Pseudoscience
or simply bad science is not tolerated in the scientific community.
Furthermore, even amongst the general public, there seems to be an
understanding of what makes an expert credible, and unscientific beliefs
are largely kept separate from scientific beliefs. While the lack of
scientific knowledge (and credulity and skepticism in general) is woefully
poor in the U.S., the situation appears to me quite different from what is
seen in Russia or India. As an example of how cultural differences can
affect pseudoscientific beliefs, you can look to Creation
Science/Intelligent Design in the U.S. (which is universally viewed as
pseudoscience in the scientific community, but not by a significant
percentage of the public), or homeopathy in much of Europe, which is not
only accepted as valid by a large part of the public, but receives state
funds for research and for public health. But these things have much
narrower scope than what is seen in some countries.
I wouldn't say that I "look down on India or Russia", simply that I
recognize a reality in their scientific systems and scientific philosophy.
It means I may scrutinize a paper coming from Russia closer than I would
one coming from the U.S. My earlier comment about "not a single scientist"
in India was (I hope) obviously hyperbole, but I do think that way too
many scientists there are quick to give absurdly incorrect information,
and way too many journalists are quick to print it... far more of either
than we find in the U.S. or western Europe.
Anyway, enough said. Agree or disagree... it isn't my intent to start a
big argument. I think we can all agree that certain areas of the world
produce particularly poor meteor/meteorite reports (and sometimes, a
complete lack of follow-up), regardless of the underlying reason.
Chris
*****************************************
Chris L Peterson
Cloudbait Observatory
http://www.cloudbait.com
----- Original Message -----
From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com>
Sent: Thursday, August 09, 2007 9:35 AM
Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Family Claims Meteorite
FellInTheirCourtyardinIndia
Chris wrote:
" I think there are certain countries that are much more
likely to embrace bad science or pseudoscience (India and Russia come
immediately to mind)."
You mean like countries where creationist theme parks attract the crowds
and where nearly half the population believes the earth is less than
10000 years old?
I say there is no reason to look down on India or Russia in this regard.
Svend
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