🚀 go-pugleaf

On 7 Oct, 12:34, Pentcho Valev <pva...@yahoo.com> wrote in
sci.physics.relativity:
> Up until recently there were alarming publications describing the
> decline of physical sciences, even hinting at an irreversible death of
> science etc.:
>
> http://www.ucu.org.uk/index.cfm?articleid=2154
> "This afternoon's decision to axe the physics department at Reading
> University is part of potentially irreversible decline of UK science
> that could soon see parts of the UK unable to provide courses in both
> science and maths, warns UCU."
>
> http://www.lewrockwell.com/orig6/ingdahl2.html
> "But there has been a marked global decrease of students willing to
> study physics, and funding has decreased accordingly. Not only that,
> the best students are not heading for studies in physics, finding
> other fields more appealing, and science teachers to schools are
> getting scarcer in supply. In fact, warning voices are being heard
> about the spread of a "scientific illiteracy" where many living in
> technologically advanced societies lack the knowledge and the ability
> for critical thinking in order to function in their daily
> environment."
>
> http://education.guardian.co.uk/schools/comment/story/0,9828,1648111,00.html
> "We are nearing the end of the "World Year of Physics", otherwise
> known as Einstein Year, as it is the centenary of his annus mirabilis
> in which he made three incredible breakthroughs, including special
> relativity. In fact, it was 100 years ago yesterday that he published
> the most famous equation in the history of physics: E=mc2. But instead
> of celebrating, physicists are in mourning after a report showed a
> dramatic decline in the number of pupils studying physics at school.
> The number taking A-level physics has dropped by 38% over the past 15
> years, a catastrophic meltdown that is set to continue over the next
> few years. The report warns that a shortage of physics teachers and a
> lack of interest from pupils could mean the end of physics in state
> schools. Thereafter, physics would be restricted to only those
> students who could afford to go to posh schools. Britain was the home
> of Isaac Newton, Michael Faraday and Paul Dirac, and Brits made world-
> class contributions to understanding gravity, quantum physics and
> electromagnetism - and yet the British physicist is now facing
> extinction. But so what? Physicists are not as cuddly as pandas, so
> who cares if we disappear?"
>
> Now nobody is hinting at anything. That is reasonable: you cannot make
> people care about "Rigoletto", about Rachmaninov's second concerto,
> about true science. Some things cannot be saved....

Two French texts should be added:

http://dogma.free.fr/txt/EK-ScienceQuiestion.htm
Etienne Klein: "Par ailleurs, on remarque qu'aujourd'hui, les theses
«relativistes», par exemple celle de Paul Feyerabend, ont un impact
tres fort, notamment dans les milieux etudiants. Meme si leur
diffusion s'accompagne de contresens et de malentendus, elles servent
de socle a des critiques de plus en plus vives adressees aux
professionnels de la recherche : Votre science dit-elle reellement le
vrai? Comment osez-vous pretendre qu'elle se refere a la rationalite
alors que les jugements esthetiques, les prejuges metaphysiques et
autres desirs subjectifs impregnent sinon sa demarche tout entiere, du
moins certaines de ses phases? Votre legitimite incontestee est-elle
fondee sur autre chose que des effets de pouvoir?"

http://www.i-sem.net/press/jmll_isem_palermo.pdf
Jean-Marc Levy-Leblond: "La science souffre d'une forte perte de
credit, au sens propre comme au sens figure: son soutien politique et
economique, comme sa reputation intellectuelle et culturelle
connaissent une crise grave."

Pentcho Valev