I think scientists who truly understand the principles of Structures of Scientific Revolutions would be better at noticing changes were needed, helping make the changes, or at least not getting in the way.
Instead, most practicing scientists talk about physical realism in a way that even hardcore reductionists think is naive. And that affects how the general populace treats the scientific results. Which affects how science is treated by the general public.
In short, I think if scientists were more philosophically sophisticated, they would help the public be more sophisticated.
Edit: simplicio makes a more important and slightly similar point.
I think scientists who truly understand the principles of Structures of Scientific Revolutions would be better at noticing changes were needed, helping make the changes, or at least not getting in the way.
Instead, most practicing scientists talk about physical realism in a way that even hardcore reductionists think is naive. And that affects how the general populace treats the scientific results. Which affects how science is treated by the general public.
In short, I think if scientists were more philosophically sophisticated, they would help the public be more sophisticated.
Edit: simplicio makes a more important and slightly similar point.