Is it enough that we know how to make advanced medicines, game consoles, and cars? That all has to do with making money. That's the motivation behind all that. Particle accelerators don't exist for discovering better medicines, one need only look to nature (as in flora and fauna) for that anyway. Slamming particles together is indeed a way of probing the deeper inner workings of the Universe, but why are those answers ultimately being sought? Well, here's my theory... The fear exists that a key discovery will be made by a single party that would allow for development of superior military capability, so all major nations are working collectively to make sure they are not left behind when such a discovery is made. Secondly, discoveries of this nature might lead to development of niftier portable devices, game consoles, and other marketable distractions. There is no quest for understanding, only for knowledge that can be exploited for profit or power.
I've talked to many people over the years about their beliefs. More often then not I find that most regular folks have a malleable belief system that is a veritable potpourri of bits and pieces of everything. Usually it's a weird hybrid of Christian and Pagan religions forced into an evolutionary framework. I'm betting Potpourri is the largest religion in the world. It seems to me that people who actually care about those deeper questions more than the ability to interface using Facebook, or play video games, are the exception and not the rule. Maybe I'm wrong. What do you think? Is the search for true understanding (not just profitable knowledge) an obsolete priority in todays world?
- Cham
