Posts from Actaea

I don't like this issue about the ocean. Taking money from people to study things that have no significance in the development of current technologies or ways to solve various problems (for example, medicine) is not my thing. But the second one emphasizes the rejection not just of all "useless" research, but specifically of those that do not provide economic benefits.

Then the question is of a different nature: why is it not possible to allow the private sector to do this?

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I may be wrong, but from my non-scientific point of view, many studies in the field of, for example, studying animal behavior in their natural environment do not really contribute to technologies that are relevant to humanity.

Again, I may be wrong, but regarding taxes, I have already said - it is better that no one flies into space and every year they release iPhones and back scratchers, than all people around live on ration cards.

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

studying animal behavior in their natural environment

I find such reflections strange. Why did primitive people invent tools? Wasn't it to make their work easier, to make it more efficient? Why have civilizations throughout history developed weapons? And what about everyday conveniences – aren't they born out of a real need for them?

And the argument "they made a special camera to make it more convenient to observe" doesn't seem very strong.

A cell is the simplest component of an organism. Studying it is pointless, isn't it?

You might say that animal behavior is pointless and has no impact! But who knows. I think that the first people who stared into microscopes at some unknown nonsense were also viewed that way by society.

The logic of "if it's not economically viable, then it's not needed" has led us to the point where, instead of exploring space, we get a new iPhone every year. Of course, why should we explore the ocean or space? Let's invest in developing a convenient back scratcher so that people can sit in front of a monitor and feel a pleasant scratching sensation without any effort, because that's what the common people want.
However, even if we approach this issue from the perspective of the people's needs, as Ment noted, knowledge gained in one area can often help in another.
So, there are no "useless" studies. Any fundamental research expands our understanding of the world, contributes to the development of technologies needed to explore it, and much more.

Because it's more profitable for the private sector to develop iPhones and back scratchers, obviously.

In short, I don't know, maybe I'll come up with something from the first two... Or maybe not.

So, how will we resolve this issue, Ment, Kosha?

I find it amusing that the war in Actaea is initiated by the Security Council, which is an organization that is supposed to maintain peace.

I might be wrong, but from my non-scientific perspective, many studies in the field of, for example, studying animal behavior in their natural environment, don't really contribute to technologies that are relevant to humanity.

ISIS is developing nuclear weapons.
- We will not attack them. Because we must maintain peace, which means we must not start a war!

ISIS has nuclear weapons.
— Let's attack them and destroy those weapons. Otherwise, they might attack someone.