Why do they want to know so much about the universe?
2007-10-19 15:21:37 · 15 answers · asked by Rockstar 6 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Well, according to Thomas Kuhn ("The Structure o fScientific Revolutions") science is "puzzle-solving." And, speaking as a social scientist and former computer geek, I agree.
Think about how much time people spend solving all kinds of puzzles just for fun. And getting paid for solving real-world puzzles? Man--this is not work, its play!
Seriously--it is hard work--but it is also fun. And in adding to human knowledge, the scientist is also doing something worthwhile that --even indirectly--helps people. Not a bad way to earn a living!
2007-10-19 16:05:54 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Believe it or not, the search for knowledge and understanding is an addiction. When you learn something by finding it out for yourself or by working to understand on your own, the high you get is better than any drug, better than sex, even better than double chocolate chip ice cream.
Unfortunately for those of us afflicted with the curse of curiousity, there are no support groupsm and no Knowledge Anonymous meetings anywhere.
But we are a dying breed - fewer and fewer people these days aqre willing to learn for the pure joy and bliss of learning.
Which is a mixed blessing. Fewer knowledge addicts in the world means that the average intelligence of the planet goes down, and people that have below-average intelligence today will be normal or even above average in a few years (without learning one thing in the meantime).
2007-10-19 15:47:57 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I offer a quote from Albert Einstein as fodder for thought.
"I want to know how God created this world, I am not
interested in this or that phenomenon, in the spectrum
of this or that element. I want to know His thoughts,
the rest are details."
If you can think of either (A) the world as the creation of God, or (B) God is a concept representing the reason and order behind creation than you can see that Einstein's drive to understand reality and what makes it "tick" as the reason for his being a scientist.
Me too, by the way, especially from the point of view of version (A).
2007-10-19 16:27:30 · answer #3 · answered by Chuck T 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are two kinds of people: curious, and incurious. Curious people just want to know things, is all. If there's any "reason" for our existence, it almost has to be to learn things, and for curious folks, the learning really is its own reward. The incurious never quite get this concept. What a pity.
PS to eri: GREAT answer!
2007-10-19 20:21:27 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
They see something and wonder "Why?..." Then when they find out why they think "How amazing I need to tell people!!" Then the people are like "Tell me more!" And the Scientist is like "I would love too!" and TA DA!. Sometimes you just want to know why thing are the way they are...when you learn it feels great...
2007-10-19 15:28:03 · answer #5 · answered by ------- 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because all sentient beings seek knowledge. Some are content with merely believing. Some aren´t and therefore seek answers.
2007-10-20 04:00:22 · answer #6 · answered by DrAnders_pHd 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's called normal intelligent behavior. That's why you are not still living in a cave.
Some people ask questions about Nature and the Universe.
Others ask why.
2007-10-19 15:33:33 · answer #7 · answered by oscillator 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why not? I believe you can only truly appreciate the beauty of the universe by beginning to learn how it all works.
2007-10-19 15:25:37 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Intellectual curiosity
2007-10-19 18:11:48 · answer #9 · answered by vpi61 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Curiosity.
Doug
2007-10-19 16:02:13 · answer #10 · answered by doug_donaghue 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋