04-09-2015, 01:02 PM
Originally posted by dakine
What does astronomy really do for mankind? When we see some great discovery announced in the press what is being gained? Is the discovery of black holes or whatever elemental structures, star dust etc., really serve to help us, mankind, in any way? Does looking back in time, for it is backwards that the telescopes gaze, provide us with tools to apply as we go forward? Does it make us better, kinder, healthier? Does it put food on the table, or make better medicine? Who gains what from all the staring at the stars?
I think these questions are interesting and are increasingly common. In revewing this thread, and others like it, they remain largely unanswered. It would be especially informative if an expert like TomK was willing to help explain the scientific value of the TMT project from an astronomer's view.
Of course, it's not like stopping the TMT will create a 1.4 billion dollar fund to feed the hungry, house the poor, and cure the sick. The international funding doesn't work like that and casting the options as such feels more rhetorical than truthful IMHO.
I remain interested if anyone opposed to the TMT project can answer the difficult question if there are any conditions that would make building the TMT on Mauna Kea acceptable. For some, the answer is likely no (sacred is sacred) but I would be interested in what the middle ground might look like, if there is any to be found.
I have no easy answers, but tend to favor the promotion of science, if only because science has provided powerful tools and methods for tackling the challenges of the world around us. These challenges have a habit of coming out of the blue and changing everything, just when it seemed things were all figured out.
What does astronomy really do for mankind? When we see some great discovery announced in the press what is being gained? Is the discovery of black holes or whatever elemental structures, star dust etc., really serve to help us, mankind, in any way? Does looking back in time, for it is backwards that the telescopes gaze, provide us with tools to apply as we go forward? Does it make us better, kinder, healthier? Does it put food on the table, or make better medicine? Who gains what from all the staring at the stars?
I think these questions are interesting and are increasingly common. In revewing this thread, and others like it, they remain largely unanswered. It would be especially informative if an expert like TomK was willing to help explain the scientific value of the TMT project from an astronomer's view.
Of course, it's not like stopping the TMT will create a 1.4 billion dollar fund to feed the hungry, house the poor, and cure the sick. The international funding doesn't work like that and casting the options as such feels more rhetorical than truthful IMHO.
I remain interested if anyone opposed to the TMT project can answer the difficult question if there are any conditions that would make building the TMT on Mauna Kea acceptable. For some, the answer is likely no (sacred is sacred) but I would be interested in what the middle ground might look like, if there is any to be found.
I have no easy answers, but tend to favor the promotion of science, if only because science has provided powerful tools and methods for tackling the challenges of the world around us. These challenges have a habit of coming out of the blue and changing everything, just when it seemed things were all figured out.