Science:Funding and Morals (and the Spirit)

[William Tivol]

C_REYES at RUMAC.UPR.CLU.EDU wrote:

: There is a more basic element to this discussion. Yes, I know it is a bad
: word among some scientists... MMMM, I will say it. It is the HUMAN SPIRIT.
: It has to do with the perceptions of the individual. What he feels and
: thinks life is all about (Purposly mentioned feeling, since is part of
: the human spirit). 

	I agree that any society acting in its long-term interest must take
values of the human spirit into account.

: [snip]  Every time I visit the US ( I live in Puerto Rico) I am amazed
: at the concern for money in many circles, specially Universities.

	What one does and/or publishes seems to be of less importance these
days than how much grant money one's research brings in.

: Tivol Continues:

: 	"These are very complex problems, but you're right.  The problems
: have to be dealt with in their full complexity in order to find the solu-
: tion.  The best way to do this is incrementally (and, at least, pseudo-
: adibatically)." 

: 	I agree but IMHO not until we face more basic problems are we going to 
: get anywhere.

	As many of us have already posted, the problems in funding of science
are interdependent with those of our society as a whole and cannot be solved
without consideration of overall social values.
				Yours,
				Bill Tivol