General Discussion

MineralMan

(151,492 posts)

3. It might be the same thing, really.

Sun Mar 24, 2013, 12:59 PM

Mar 2013

Science always attracted me, although I went in a different direction with my career. My father is and was one of the most logical people I've ever known. He was an auto mechanic by trade, and a brilliant diagnostician. He taught me the process he used to correctly determine what was wrong with a system. It was crucial to his making his auto shop successful.

So, maybe I inherited some of that, but I doubt it. I think an emphasis on logical processes is learned. So, yes, I was drawn to the sciences, and away from more intuitional pursuits, but I think it was a learned thing, rather than an inborn one.

I was the kid whose parents explained the difference between the concept of Santa Claus and the reality by the time I was three. Of course, that made me the kid who explained that in Kindergarten and got lots of people ticked off, too.

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Does studying science make you a better person? [View all] DavidDvorkin Mar 2013 OP

Studying science does teach some sort of logical process MineralMan Mar 2013 #1

That could be a factor DavidDvorkin Mar 2013 #2

It might be the same thing, really. MineralMan Mar 2013 #3

"He taught me the process he used to correctly determine what was wrong with a system." AikidoSoul Mar 2013 #75

That's very interesting stuff, and I use that type of MineralMan Mar 2013 #77

You are right about this. And of course it's also true of the computer business, which is what AikidoSoul Mar 2013 #79

Thanks for your reply and for the discussion. MineralMan Mar 2013 #89

+1 uponit7771 Mar 2013 #10

People who study science, & track research, often feel compelled to look at who funded the research AikidoSoul Mar 2013 #68

As important as logical thinking is quantitative thinking FarCenter Mar 2013 #108

That's an important point. DavidDvorkin Mar 2013 #115

I guess that tells us what the 1% aren't studying Fumesucker Mar 2013 #4

One of my favorite scenes. Brigid Mar 2013 #54

I know in my heart that it does. Blanks Mar 2013 #5

Kicking to keep this going. GoneOffShore Mar 2013 #6

Compared to the alternative, sure, it makes sense.... Wounded Bear Mar 2013 #7

And you get to do cool shit. progressoid Mar 2013 #8

Thanks. I needed that. JDPriestly Mar 2013 #37

The helical model - our solar system is a vortex... Cool stuff! dkf Mar 2013 #38

Facinating and a bit mezmerizing. progressoid Mar 2013 #44

And beyond the visuals quite thought provoking. dkf Mar 2013 #47

And some super bad shit too. Edward Teller, "Father of the Hydrogen Bomb" is also a designer AikidoSoul Mar 2013 #91

To be fair laundry_queen Mar 2013 #97

I think what makes a person better is getting to know people on a one to one personal basis. liberal_at_heart Mar 2013 #9

This also, science trains a persons mind to accept realities better imhe...the current GOP does not uponit7771 Mar 2013 #11

That's true, but science represents a way of looking MineralMan Mar 2013 #12

"I think what makes a person better is getting to know people on a one to one personal basis." AikidoSoul Mar 2013 #78

+1000 YoungDemCA Mar 2013 #83

Flow makes you a better person. gulliver Mar 2013 #13

Flow. I like that. liberal_at_heart Mar 2013 #14

Yep. Logical reasoning is the key to life. Zoeisright Mar 2013 #15

+infinity Apophis Mar 2013 #17

And BTW, good research is designed to Zoeisright Mar 2013 #16

The last line was meant humorously DavidDvorkin Mar 2013 #20

Does studying literature, art, philosophy, history, any of the humanities make you a better person? Tierra_y_Libertad Mar 2013 #18

All of the above bhikkhu Mar 2013 #19

"'Than you would be otherwise' being a necessary caveat. Not all science and not all practitioners liberal_at_heart Mar 2013 #32

As a graduate of the arts, I would like to think so. progressoid Mar 2013 #22

But scientists are the more important out of those. nt Generation_Why Mar 2013 #24

My gut makes me want to agree.. awoke_in_2003 Mar 2013 #27

Was that sarcasm? I hope that was sarcasm. Nevernose Mar 2013 #56

Science will eventually kill us Art_from_Ark Mar 2013 #61

Amen to that! Most science is used to make people rich....and much of it is AikidoSoul Mar 2013 #94

I don't think the poster of the thread meant for it to be a competition between students of. AikidoSoul Mar 2013 #82

Thank you DavidDvorkin Mar 2013 #87

I was talking about the post, not thread Nevernose Mar 2013 #90

I've never heard Paul Ryan say anything poetic or uplifting, but your comment made me think about AikidoSoul Mar 2013 #92

Probably Sgent Mar 2013 #26

People who study science are no better or worse than anybody else. liberal_at_heart Mar 2013 #28

This kind of study is notoriously hard to make valid. Igel Mar 2013 #40

Big deal. Tierra_y_Libertad Mar 2013 #41

It's almost as though things can change in four or five decades. Imagine. (nt) Posteritatis Mar 2013 #43

Answer: Yes. blackspade Mar 2013 #21

People that study science are less likely to hold misinformed opinions... Generation_Why Mar 2013 #23

Just like a lot of Western medicine, I'm sure some eastern medicine is BS. But you are wrong to AikidoSoul Mar 2013 #93

+1000 PADemD Mar 2013 #112

ouch. Phillip McCleod Mar 2013 #113

And politics... LanternWaste Mar 2013 #95

Maybe folks who study science are smarter than those who don't, and valerief Mar 2013 #25

Not too many scientist or intellectuals volunteering at the places I help out at... demosincebirth Mar 2013 #31

Yes, because soup kitchens are the only way someone can contribute to the common good. valerief Mar 2013 #33

It's not the only way but it's always good to get out and see the people. liberal_at_heart Mar 2013 #36

scientists can probably help out in other ways, many wingnuts volunteer at soup kitchens JI7 Mar 2013 #50

the point is the poor need both good policy and someone to actually come and give them liberal_at_heart Mar 2013 #53

You have to have empathy which many of the rw'ers don't have. Haven't met one yet down here demosincebirth Mar 2013 #58

Many scientists are introverts and deeply buried in their research Duer 157099 Mar 2013 #52

I guess I just don't know why it's an either or situation. It's okay to take a 2 hours break to go liberal_at_heart Mar 2013 #55

2 hours to get there, 2 hours to serve, 2 hours to return home is 6 hours. valerief Mar 2013 #64

You won't see me in Oakland quaker bill Mar 2013 #57

It's not so bad. You just have to treat them with respect and dignity...thats the key. demosincebirth Mar 2013 #59

On a side note, re: Quakers. Thanks! OriginalGeek Mar 2013 #73

Many Friends did good (while doing very well) quaker bill Mar 2013 #98

Those "common ol' folks" have never been exposed to science? Hissyspit Mar 2013 #63

I don't know about better, but it sure makes you smarter. n/t Cleita Mar 2013 #29

I agree. demosincebirth Mar 2013 #35

On Facebook this afternoon, chervilant Mar 2013 #30

Sorry but that does not compute for me. ananda Mar 2013 #34

eating frosted flakes makes you more likely to help injured unicorns markiv Mar 2013 #39

An important scientific principle to remember in connection with this claim... DreamGypsy Mar 2013 #42

a good education makes you a better person BainsBane Mar 2013 #45

Not necessarily. VenusRising Mar 2013 #46

I think a well rounded education felix_numinous Mar 2013 #48

very well said! liberal_at_heart Mar 2013 #49

+1 uponit7771 Mar 2013 #60

GREAT post! YoungDemCA Mar 2013 #86

Damn straight! Duer 157099 Mar 2013 #51

As a scientist, it depends on how you view the data quaker bill Mar 2013 #62

Studying science, especially the subjects that interest me the most, makes me happy...eom Tikki Mar 2013 #65

I answered a post on the Salon forum Rozlee Mar 2013 #66

Yes! The ONLY topic worth majoring in is science. joanbarnes Mar 2013 #67

Scientists are left-brained, there's little room for ambiguous 'stuff'. toby jo Mar 2013 #69

Good scientists do not reject ambiguity... LeftishBrit Mar 2013 #71

Good post. YoungDemCA Mar 2013 #84

+++1 patrice Mar 2013 #106

Actually, it is the nature of what many refer to as "proof" that it is always open-ended. patrice Mar 2013 #107

With the exception of Harlow Shapley. aquart Mar 2013 #70

Seriously studying anything probably does help to 'improve the mind' to use an old-fashioned phrase LeftishBrit Mar 2013 #72

A better person? No. TroglodyteScholar Mar 2013 #74

I've been thinking of a list of 'scientists'... CanSocDem Mar 2013 #76

So a bunch of Scientist decided what they study makes them better 4Q2u2 Mar 2013 #80

Anything that teaches critical thinking makes you a better person hobbit709 Mar 2013 #81

In my humble opinion, if people at all levels of society were more educated.... YoungDemCA Mar 2013 #85

My niece has Down's Syndrome LanternWaste Mar 2013 #88

I love your post! liberal_at_heart Mar 2013 #100

No authentic scientist would invalidate what you just said. patrice Mar 2013 #104

Does social science of questionable methodology count? Recursion Mar 2013 #96

Imperfection is a powerful drive for learning & there are real reasons to value patrice Mar 2013 #102

Science is Satan's henchman !!!!!! olddots Mar 2013 #99

There are people who experience the processes of science as a type of delight in the universe. patrice Mar 2013 #101

Yes, indeed. DavidDvorkin Mar 2013 #103

I should have said "... delight encoded in the universe ..." with which we have an affinity patrice Mar 2013 #105

Won't hurt. blkmusclmachine Mar 2013 #109

It depends on what the person would be "better" at. Jamaal510 Mar 2013 #110

I think thinking makes you a better person Warren DeMontague Mar 2013 #111

Studying is one thing... Alkene Mar 2013 #114

Academic STEM research is probably more of a swamp than business research FarCenter Mar 2013 #117

I used to work at NIH in Bethesda deutsey Mar 2013 #116