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Modern Artisans
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Post by
Morec0
I had an epiphany today; scientists (of all variations) are the craftsmen artisans of the 21st century. Back in the day you would have your blacksmiths, your carpenters, your potters, all manner of skilled individuals that put time, effort, and pride into making things for other people that were still very much their own. There were far fewer of them than there are today, but back then their work showed true craftsmanship – unlike today’s mass-produced items. And now we have scientists – individuals who put time, effort, and pride into their research and experiments, and because of their dedication – dedication that I can only compare to the talented craftsmen of yore – advancements in all manner of scientific fields have been made. And they do it because they are truly passionate about their field and their work – again like the craftsmen of yore.
I always hear news media and people in general complain about how so many children aren’t interested in science and mathematics and how so few people go into the field of science, but I think it’s better that way. I think that it’s better that only those people who truly love that area go into it.
There is an old saying about how too much of a good thing is too much of a good thing, and another about how one bad apple spoils the bunch.
So imagine, if you will, a world where people who are not interested in the area of science go into it because there are “too few scientists.” Imagine a world that has the average mixed in with the true geniuses and has them trying to work on the same level as one another.
Yeah, it’s a REALLY bad idea.
Post by
Septimus
I'm doing a Bachelor of Science.
Go me!
Post by
asakawa
I hate to disagree with a topic that, on the face of it, is very cool but I've got to say that I disagree on basically all points >.<
Firstly, there are artisan craftspeople right now. Tons of them doing carpentry and so on. Because there
is
an IKEA doesn't mean that that's all there is. If you want a really nice artisan table, go and find it - they're out there! (and science has brought you the internet on which to find them)
Most importantly though, your view of genius scientists dedicated to their craft is a romanticised fiction created from TV/film (Frankenstein or HG Wells' Time Traveller) and what few science news stories reach the mainstream media (Einstein and Hawking) and it simply doesn't reflect reality.
Even Einsteins need Eddingtons. Science is a community endeavour in which the whole is FAR greater than the sum of its parts. Every Nobel winner thanks a ton of individuals and institutions for their part in the advance that got the prize. Every new advance stands on the shoulders of every advance that ever went before.
People working in a field that doesn't hold their interest may not be ideal but low interest in science is absolutely not something that should be accepted or (especially!) rejoiced. This generation needs a Sagan (Perhaps Neil deGrasse Tyson will be it since he's making a new Cosmos) and a "space programme" (not necessarily space (though that would be cool) but something in the zeitgeist - you'd think all these computers we use might do it). Someone and something to inspire young people and engage them in how wonderful science really is.
Lastly, too many cooks may spoil the broth but they do not spoil science. Old sayings don't always apply.
Post by
204878
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
Morec0
I hate to disagree with a topic that, on the face of it, is very cool but I've got to say that I disagree on basically all points >.<
Firstly, there are artisan craftspeople right now. Tons of them doing carpentry and so on. Because there
is
an IKEA doesn't mean that that's all there is. If you want a really nice artisan table, go and find it - they're out there! (and science has brought you the internet on which to find them)
Most importantly though, your view of genius scientists dedicated to their craft is a romanticised fiction created from TV/film (Frankenstein or HG Wells' Time Traveller) and what few science news stories reach the mainstream media (Einstein and Hawking) and it simply doesn't reflect reality.
Even Einsteins need Eddingtons. Science is a community endeavour in which the whole is FAR greater than the sum of its parts. Every Nobel winner thanks a ton of individuals and institutions for their part in the advance that got the prize. Every new advance stands on the shoulders of every advance that ever went before.
People working in a field that doesn't hold their interest may not be ideal but low interest in science is absolutely not something that should be accepted or (especially!) rejoiced. This generation needs a Sagan (Perhaps Neil deGrasse Tyson will be it since he's making a new Cosmos) and a "space programme" (not necessarily space (though that would be cool) but something in the zeitgeist - you'd think all these computers we use might do it). Someone and something to inspire young people and engage them in how wonderful science really is.
Lastly, too many cooks may spoil the broth but they do not spoil science. Old sayings don't always apply.
All very good points, and nothing I have can argue against it, to be honest. Yes, artisans do still exist; but they are now more of a curiosity and less of a nessescity in todays world of mass production. To me, science and innovation is impossible if there are fools around - although this may stem moreso from my social Darwinism beliefs than any actual facts I can bring up. All in all, I just think it is better to have a small group of heavily dedicated individuals than to have a large group of people simply going "another day at work."
As for the thanking of so many individuals; it still takes one dreamer to think it up in the firstplace and have the brilliance to paint it out in a way that works - and I'll bet my paycheck that it wasn't one of those institutions and friends weren't the ones who clicked the final peices together.
All in all; still just my opinion.
And thanks for the quote! I was trying to think of that exact one earlier, but I guess I just wasn't hungry enough to remember it. Heh.
Post by
Septimus
My uni recently posted this article in the news section.
Interesting topic, slightly relevant.
http://media.uow.edu.au/news/UOW125597.html
Post by
asakawa
Beautifully crafted items were never a "necessity" though. You get what you pay for and that was true in the "yore" you invoke. People might have had a beautifully carved mantelpiece but you can bet their kitchen table would be a pretty rough chunk of wood simply put together. Honestly, it's still there just as much as always. For every McDonalds there's a Michelin starred restaurant.
Regarding your "one dreamer" painting brilliance, this is what I mean about a romanticised view of things. We love that Einstein was a patent clerk and we imagine him to have been cut off from the scientific community being all brilliant on his own. That's not true and what truth there is to this image is an anomaly.
Scientists learn everything they can about a subject focussing in closer and closer to something they find particularly interesting. This interest and knowledge gets focussed down to a needle-point where the scientist in question is still just learning the sum of human knowledge on the subject. Then they make a small advance forward. This is how it works. These people aren't geniuses, they're regular people and that's how it needs to work. You can't wait around for geniuses to come along and do something, you've got to roll your sleeves up and do it yourself.
Also, the way science works is that someone makes a prediction based on their (possibly new) understanding and tests the prediction. If the results match the prediction then that's great but this is still a long way short of being accepted by the scientific community. Their experiment must be replicable and actively replicated by several other, entirely separate groups/labs before it really has any credibility.
This is the nature of science. It's not a guy with a blackboard. A guy and his blackboard don't achieve anything. It's a community.
The stories and the interesting personalities are fantastic but Tycho Brahe, Darwin, Einstein and Hawking would all tell you the same thing.
Post by
134377
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
331902
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
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