2011.10.8

How Science Can Lead the Way

/Page 41 TIME October 3, 2011/

Sign Spotting

• Why and how recent U.S. politicians prefer religious way of thinking to scientific one
• Radical differences between scientific explanation and religious belief
• How to apply scientifically based logics to governance and get back logic-conscious politicians

Briefing

• According to the article, American politicians feel more confortable presenting christianity based decisionmaking, instead of empirically based analysis. Clear examples of this is Rick Perry’s statement about the theory of evolution, religion-friendly policies by Bush Administration, and Republican’s attitude toward global warming problem. 
• Scientific way of thinking is based on observation and theories, and provides rational decisionmaking and reasonable answers for politicians. Also, unlike faith-drived way of thinking, logics can be improved and applied. Moreover, science can define the uncertainty of itself and evaluate how accurate the results is. 
• But these features of science are too clear and systematic to apply into complicated policies. However, the writer says, it’s our responsibility to investigate reason as far as possible. Politicians need to focus on alternative strategies where thought is based on the data about the relative effectiveness of various policies. 

Opinion

The relationship between religion and science is quite different in Japan’s decisionmaing about policy. This is because the dominant religion among Japanese, Buddism, does not define the existence of God. As a result of this, most scientific theory does not make paradox with faith. On the other hand, the situation is opposite in the U.S. but the problem is not here. The faith itself should be free of choice and protected, but politicians need to be applied scientifically rational way of thinking in making policy, because every policy is for all people who have various kind of faith.