Wednesday, June 22, 2005
Fundamentalism Saps America's Intellectual Vitality
In a report in the International Herald Tribune datelined Cambridge, England, Peter Watson writes, "For decades, 'big science' - indeed any kind of science - has been led by the United States. There are warning signs, however, that American science is losing its edge, and may even have peaked. One reason is that as religious and political fundamentalism tighten their grip, they are beginning to sap America's intellectual vitality."
Watson goes on to report:
Watson goes on to report:
As a result of fundamentalist opposition, America is already falling behind in cloning and stem cell research, now led by South Korean, Italian and British scientists. In February the New Scientist reported a survey in which fully half the scientists working for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said they had been pushed to alter or ithdraw scientific findings for political reasons.
