I remember reading once that science has allowed us to become gods before we ever learned to be humans. Advancements in science have allowed us to do everything from saving lives to enjoying seedless watermelon. Such advancements have not only made life easier but have also improved the overall standard of living for everyone. These improvements will be vital in closing the third world divide and helping counter the population explosion, food shortages, water potability and other global problems. But has the pride of realizing truths about nature and advanced technology desensitized us toward life?
The Large Hadron Collider, which was recently restarted, has made me think about the limit to which I would accept the slightest negligence that might threaten humanity. The point to be noted is that the LHC was created by humans in the name of furthering science for humanity. Even if the smartest minds in the world know what they are talking about, anything could go wrong, including the unlikely creation of a black hole. Is human life that expendable?
The problem with academics is their inability to understand sentiment and human feelings. A case in point is the ridicule creationists face in the United States. Those who believe in Darwinism claim that they believe in evolution and survival of the fittest, yet they look toward the arrogance of a selected elite to direct them to the elite's chosen path.
Even if the theory of creationism is scientifically proven to be incorrect, it should not be a source of humor or serve as a reason not to vote for a competent candidate. Even though creationism should not be taught exclusively in schools (due to separation of church and state), it should be mentioned in textbooks so that children are aware of the other side. An informed public should be free to make their own choices. The job of academics is simply to make every option clear and not make decisions for anybody.
Has the atheist and agnostic movement become the new line of imperial thought? The British used to conquer territories and exploit people in the name of destroying barbarism and imposing the "white man's burden." Are we rationals unknowingly walking on the same path and distancing ourselves from the majority of the population, which has a different set of beliefs? It is necessary to understand people's beliefs and their nature in order to understand their actions.
Our lives are full of little beliefs upon which we base some decisions (lucky objects, relationships with people, etc.). Can we not accept some people's belief in an all-knowing entity that controls one's fate? The thought is certainly quite appealing and does help us rationalize terrible luck and offers answers to questions about the afterlife, which in turn helps us lead content lives and get through mundane day-to-day events. The feeling that everyone is unique and has a duty to play in a world orchestrated by the entity can certainly help some people perform at their best. On the other hand, being complacent and accepting or blaming everything on fate or God is not only a lazy man's excuse, but also dangerous. Rationalizing manslaughter in the name of God is the other end of not being open to discussion and being detached from life and other people's pain.
Such problems are also seen with Democrats, Keynesians and any other proponents of collectivism. The idea that the government or a collective leadership knows better and can make decisions for everybody is nothing short of serfdom. That a certain group arrogantly claims to know how we should live our lives should smack in the face of all Brown undergraduates who believe in the New Curriculum. We came here to break away from the serfdom of university administrators deciding what it means to be educated. We are charged by our curriculum and by our system to individually create what it means to be educated. Yet these same advocates of the curriculum look to Washington, to Keynesians and to Democrats to dictate how and where we spend our money as they push us and make us pursue their self-interest. I say, Brown students, rise up against such collectivism and use Brown as an instrument against such forms of dictatorship.
I believe that we as humans will always strive to make our and our families' lives better and will make the right decisions once we have all the necessary facts to make those decisions. Hostility toward people with different sets of standards and upbringings distances us from humanity and valuable relationships. Some of my best friends on campus attend religious services routinely and one of them is even a Byzantine chanter at a Greek Orthodox church. Their friendships have been valuable in shaping me as a person, extending my knowledge about their cultures and making me tolerant of and open to any line of thought. Tolerance is key to rationally evaluating and then adopting or shunning any idea that we come across.
Manas Gautam '12 gives lessons in fishing and respects your beliefs as long as they do not kill him. He can be reached at manas_gautam@brown.edu.
