From SIR GRAHAM HILLS
Because I so enjoyed his book, The Meaning of Quantum Theory, I was
the more disappointed at Jim Baggott’s dreary and pessimistic vision of
science in ‘Must we dance to the tune of others?’ (Forum, 18 December).
If ever a bunch of clever people talked themselves down, it has to be this
generation of academic scientists who have simply failed to think through
their predicament. Like spoiled children, they petulantly blame everyone
but themselves for failing to anticipate the ceiling which their costly
researches would encounter sooner or later.
Given the also increasing demands of health, welfare, education, Third
World, world population, you name it, the best that science can expect is
steady state financing, which is what it enjoys at present. The steady state
requires minuses as well as pluses, the abandoning of one research to make
way for another, that is, difficult choices which the scientific community
refuses to make, and then blames others who do it for them.
Britain’s expenditure on basic science has continued to increase, in
real terms, these last twenty years, but not of course at a rate to satisfy
everybody. Come on Jim, you and your colleagues are made of sterner stuff
than you suppose. The prospect of you and others just standing there and
wringing your hands in despair is unworthy of your calling. ‘The Last Man’
does not imply the Last Scientist but just more sensible and socially responsible
scientists.
Sir Graham Hills Beith, Ayrshire
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