My point is that science writers are spending their time on a point of no scientific interest.
Science writers aren’t scientists. They aren’t looking for scientific interest. They’re trying to educate the broad public about science. The most important subjects, to them, are the “most wrong” beliefs contradicting science that are common in the audience. They correctly try to fix those, even though the beliefs’ alleged theories (“a GOD created the universe in 7 days 6000 years ago!”) aren’t of any scientific interest.
Your point is perhaps that scientists shouldn’t become science writers because it’s lower-status or less beneficial work. But people very rarely choose work according to what is objectively most beneficial to humanity...
Someone rather more sceptical might propose that these authors are interested in selling books—are inspired by The God Delusion’s 1.5 million copies, and want in on the debate—irrespective of its scientific relevance—or lack thereof.
We have certainly have had a recent rush of top science writers towards the theistic gutter. I preferred it when they were talking about science. Maybe the sheer number of people in the gutter mean it is an interesting place to go. However, from my perspective, engaging with the theists gives them undeserved credibility, and effectively takes science writers out of circulation—by getting them to deal with mindless drivel all day.
In education, the most conventional structure is a ladder, with people teaching those a bit below them. Here we see those at the top reaching down to teach those at the bottom. Anyone can teach those at the bottom—it’s easy. The problem with those at the top doing it is it takes them away from their regular roles—at the top is important—it’s the leading edge, where progress happens.
If this were a plot by theists to take the science enthusiasts out of their usual orbits—from where they could teach and inspire the brightest of the next generation—I would have to say it is going well.
Anyone can teach at them, maybe. It’s easy enough to tell them, “there is no god, and evolution is true”. The hard thing is to make the masses at the bottom rung believe it. Even our best rhetoricians and scientists from way up the ladder have been having only meager success (measured against the amount of people in the world who profess belief in creationism).
Science writers aren’t scientists. They aren’t looking for scientific interest. They’re trying to educate the broad public about science. The most important subjects, to them, are the “most wrong” beliefs contradicting science that are common in the audience. They correctly try to fix those, even though the beliefs’ alleged theories (“a GOD created the universe in 7 days 6000 years ago!”) aren’t of any scientific interest.
Your point is perhaps that scientists shouldn’t become science writers because it’s lower-status or less beneficial work. But people very rarely choose work according to what is objectively most beneficial to humanity...
Someone rather more sceptical might propose that these authors are interested in selling books—are inspired by The God Delusion’s 1.5 million copies, and want in on the debate—irrespective of its scientific relevance—or lack thereof.
We have certainly have had a recent rush of top science writers towards the theistic gutter. I preferred it when they were talking about science. Maybe the sheer number of people in the gutter mean it is an interesting place to go. However, from my perspective, engaging with the theists gives them undeserved credibility, and effectively takes science writers out of circulation—by getting them to deal with mindless drivel all day.
In education, the most conventional structure is a ladder, with people teaching those a bit below them. Here we see those at the top reaching down to teach those at the bottom. Anyone can teach those at the bottom—it’s easy. The problem with those at the top doing it is it takes them away from their regular roles—at the top is important—it’s the leading edge, where progress happens.
If this were a plot by theists to take the science enthusiasts out of their usual orbits—from where they could teach and inspire the brightest of the next generation—I would have to say it is going well.
Anyone can teach at them, maybe. It’s easy enough to tell them, “there is no god, and evolution is true”. The hard thing is to make the masses at the bottom rung believe it. Even our best rhetoricians and scientists from way up the ladder have been having only meager success (measured against the amount of people in the world who profess belief in creationism).
Sure: that’s one of the properties of blind faith—no amount of reasoned argument helps.
They recognize that it is the devil talking—and they know his reputation as a debater—so the fingers go in their ears and we hear the “la-la” song.