So the future has become the past and the question “what’s going to happen on Election Day” has been answered. One remarkable outcome of Tuesday’s massive political shift has been the election of a record number of Democratic doctors, engineers and scientists. Headlines gave us phrases like “A STEM Wave” or “Revenge of the Nerds”.
With so many science-oriented folks headed to Congress, here is a question to ponder: What can training in science offer in the political arena? Clearly, expertise in scientific and technical issues will matter (I’m looking at you, AI). But beyond that, I want to offer something that may even be more valuable.
Knowing how to change your mind.
The great physicist Neils Bohr spoke of an open world built on science or a “republic of science”. Bohr believed that science naturally transcended national borders, language, and politics. Its methods foster open communication and shared knowledge. In that way he saw it as a model for an open society. Bohr thought that the scientific method - built on transparent debate, peer review, the willingness to be proven wrong - was an ideal blueprint for how human societies can govern themselves.
That last point - the willingness to be proven wrong - is the really important one. The best thing about science is it teaches you how to change your mind when the data call for it. Most important for these partisan times, science shows you how to make that change without shame or regret. It goes like this.
You believed something.
New data arrived.
You evaluated it with openness and honesty.
You saw the old belief needed to be updated.
You changed your belief.
It’s a pretty amazing process. I’ve had to change my mind a bunch of times over the years and I’ve always found it pretty bracing.
Of course, at the end of the day politics is about more than just data. Deeply held values feature prominently in political debates and that’s a domain not lying scientific training. Still, the willingness to change your mind and the experience of changing your mind both come naturally with being a scientist. Both are potent and both have supreme value at this moment in American history.
========================================================
Please support Everyman’s Universe by sending this post to couple of friends and suggesting they subscribe (I mean if you liked it of course)
Thanks!
========================================================
PS: If you have specific questions or issues you want me to address leave a comment on the website or email me at [email protected]
— Adam Frank 🚀
