If so, how would this affect their research?
If not, how do we KNOW they are not?
Love Jack
2007-11-20 05:21:53 · 5 answers · asked by Jack 5 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
No offense, but the question is rather ridiculous. Passion, love of research, and desire to learn more are all emotions that may guide actions. Can they affect research? Of course - they could be positive driving forces that advance the general body of knowledge. But scientific methodology isn't based on emotions. If a theory doesn't hold up to scrutiny, it is abandoned regardless of the researcher's emotional investment. All science works that way, not just evolutionary biology.
You seem to be implying that emotions and evolutionary science (why just that particular scientific branch, I can only speculate) have a subversive connotation.
2007-11-20 05:36:30 · answer #1 · answered by Niotulove 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Well, that's a good question. If evolutionary biologists are emotionally attached to their theories, they might make their scientific conclusions support their wishful thinkings. By that, I mean that they make their conclusions so they do not conflict with what they want to happen in the future. This, of course, is saying that evolutionists are emotionall attached to their theories in the sense that they want it to happen. Again, this is only possibility, and not a fact.
If evolutionary biologists aren't attached emotionally attached to their theories, I wouldn't exactly know how to confirm that. Set up a blind date with an evolutionist and get to known him or her better. Alright that was just a joke. Honestly, it's difficult trying to determine that because while scientists usually don't let their emotions get in the middle of their work, all humans feel emotions, it's human nature.
2007-11-20 05:36:13 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
An evolutionary biologist? No.
A member of the general public who is a proponent for evolutionary biology? Perhaps.
But they wouldn't exactly be doing research - I'm just saying their emotions might affect their opinions/debates/conversations more.
2007-11-20 08:49:47 · answer #3 · answered by nixity 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Of course! They are human beings. Like all human beings they want to be right, and don't like to be wrong.
If they are good scientists, then they will examine the evidence and draw conclusions based on the data. However it is extremely difficult to draw unbiased conclusions, because the data is extremely complex.
Evolution in particular has a lot riding on it at the emotional level, because it ties in with religion and philosophy and the meaning of life. Persons on all sides of the discussion have strong attachments to their positions for a variety of reasons, some of which are scientific reasons and others are deeply unscientific reasons.
2007-11-21 05:30:30 · answer #4 · answered by Cathy T 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
possibly - everybody likes their favorite ideas. The thing about science is, that if you have an idea that doesn't fit the facts as well as something else, or that can't be confirmed, somebody (and probably lots more than one) will point that out. You can get away with pushing junk for a little while, but pretty soon it catches up with you. Most of us learn pretty early on to discard, however reluctantly, our favorite ideas when they don't pan out. It must be nice to be a creationist, I guess - you can keep your ideas no matter how ludicrous and unsupported they may be. Intellectually dishonest, maybe, but nice.
2007-11-20 07:07:27 · answer #5 · answered by John R 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋