Are scientists, engineers and technologists (over-represented on this site) relatively easy prey for terrorist exploitation? Has the ‘engineering mindset’ dehumanised vast swathes of people with an obedient, unquestioning, uncritical ‘scientistic’ worldview? If so, how can we make a change and “‘humanise’ the teaching of scientific and technical subjects”?
“to question authority, whether scientific, political, religious or scientific.”
Oh, yeah, that’s known as the ‘scientific’ self-importance stutter, audible and visible across a range of professions in today’s society! 😉
“[I]n Isis-controlled territory, university courses in archaeology, fine art, law, philosophy, political science and sports have been eliminated, along with drama and the reading of novels.”
That’s interesting. Probably not the view that most Americans have of jihadis. I also think there’s far less questioning of authority going on than most are willing to admit. Much more faith than science going on.
ETA: Not that I think science teaches questioning of authority. Much the opposite.
My guess is that God is heavily represented in the curriculum.
sez gregory:
I’m not quite sure what gregory means by the term “engineering mindset”, nor am I entirely clear on what he means by the term “dehumanised”, so I can’t answer his question as it stands. I do, however, have some questions for him; his answers, should he choose to provide such, may or may not clarify what he means on either or both of those points.
There is a belief system which holds that one must obey the dictates of an all-powerful tyrant, on pain of being tortured until the end of Time. Is the “engineering mindset” gregory refers to, more “dehumanis[ing]” than this belief system?
Is the “engineering mindset” gregory refers to, more or less likely to encourage an “obedient, unquestioning, uncritical” worldview than is this belief system?
Does eternity end with the end of time? And if so, isn’t eternal life just an extension?
I have to admit that the “engineering mindset” can lead to thinking differently than most humans might do. Is that dehumanizing?
Here are some examples:
One afternoon, an engineering student was riding across campus on a shiny new bike. He ran into a friend of his, also an engineering student, who said, “Wow! That sure is a great bike. Where did you get it?”
“Well, the darndest thing happened,” said the first engineering student. “A girl came riding up to me and got off the bike, threw off all her clothes, and said that I could have anything that I wanted.”
“Wow,” remarked his friend. “That’s great. Good move. Her clothes probably wouldn’t have fit you anyway.”
…………………
A priest, an ophthalmologist, and an engineer were golfing one morning behind a particularly slow group of golfers.
The engineer fumed, “What’s with those guys? We must have been waiting for fifteen minutes!”
The doctor chimed in, “I don’t know, but I’ve never seen such inept golf!”
The priest said, “Here comes the greens keeper. Let’s have a word with him.”
He said, “Hello, George. What’s wrong with that group ahead of us? They’re rather slow, aren’t they?”
The greens keeper replied, “Oh, yes. That’s a group of blind firemen. They lost their sight saving our clubhouse from a fire last year, so we let them play for free anytime.”
The group fell silent for a moment. Then the priest said, “That’s so sad. I think I’ll say a special prayer for them.”
The ophthalmologist added, “Good idea. And maybe I could examine them to see if there’s anything I can do for them.”
They were silent for a moment.
Then the engineer said, “Why can’t they play at night?”
…………………………
Bubba and Billy Ray, both mechanical engineers, were standing at the base of a flagpole, looking up.
A woman walked by and asked what they were doing.
“We’re supposed to find the height of the flagpole,” said Bubba, “but we don’t have a ladder.”
The woman took a wrench from her purse, loosened a few bolts, and laid the pole down. Then she took a tape measure from her pocket, took a measurement, announced, “Eighteen feet, six inches,” and walked away.
Billy Ray shook his head and laughed. “Ain’t that just like a blonde? We ask for the height and she gives us the length!”
…………………..
To an optimist, the glass is half full.
To a pessimist, the glass is half empty.
To an engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.
http://engineering-humour.com/engineering-jokes.html
Yep, engineers are nothing but trouble!
I do not like people saying that atheism is based on science, because it’s not. It’s an alien invasion of science.
– Carl Woese