>Jeff Ricker wrote:
>> It seems to me that a particular motivation--the need for
>> certainty--is a primary determinant of the spread of irrational popular
>> beliefs within the wider culture.
I haven't had time to digest a number of lengthy posts on this topic yet,
but ...
Agreed that:
1. Uncertainty on the practical level is inherent to science, and
2. Many people (including our students) are uncomfortable with uncertainty.
However...
I don't agree that the solution is to become 'comfortable with uncertainty'.
I'd say that the discomfort with uncertainty is a prime motivator of
scientists. What distinguishes them (us) is that the scientist actively
seeks to reduce uncertainty by gathering data and deriving general
principles from it, rather than by denying (and avoiding) uncertainty by
dismissing science.
While acknowleging that perfect certainty is impossible in the real world,
we nonetheless hold that our goal is to reduce uncertainty as much as we
can.
* PAUL K. BRANDON [EMAIL PROTECTED] *
* Psychology Dept Minnesota State University, Mankato *
* 23 Armstrong Hall, Mankato, MN 56001 ph 507-389-6217 *
* http://www.mankato.msus.edu/dept/psych/welcome.html *
