Actaea

However, if we all reasoned this way, we would still be living in the Dark Ages.

I find such reflections strange. Why did primitive people invent tools? Wasn't it to make their work easier, wasn't it to make that work more efficient? Why have civilizations throughout history developed weapons? And what about everyday conveniences, aren't they born out of an actual need? And research like

studying animal behavior in their natural environment

is more like "since we have the funds, why not?"
And regarding socialism - hey ho, long live Kim Jong-un! He didn't bow down to the West, unlike the southerners, but what can you expect from them, they live like in hell, but we have a planned economy and everything is great, we'll be flying into space soon! And the Chinese are no better than the southerners, they trade with the West, making it dependent on their economy, they produce everything they can (because there is demand) and they are also developing technology, how is that possible, they also sold out.