DuBridge • The Inquiring Mind 



a new way of using public resources, 

 docs the scientist's responsibility end 

 there? I think not. There are so many 

 ways in which important matters of 

 public policy are affected by these new 

 scientific achievements that scientists 

 must stand by as advisers at least to 

 interpret, explain, criticize and suggest 

 on policy matters. 



SCIENTIFIC ADVICE 



We would not think, of course, of 

 allowing a new law affecting public 

 health to be passed without asking a 

 physician's advice on whether it is 

 wisely conceived. Yet I am sure state 

 and federal legislatures have thought of 

 it— in the various antivivisection bills, 

 for example. Fortunately ( for this pur- 

 pose at least), the medical profession 

 has great influence and can make its 

 opinions heard. And most of the public 

 respects its doctors. 



But when national security matters 

 are being discussed which involve the 

 nation's strength in atomic weapons, it 

 is clear that those in charge of forming 

 policy will need to have much help on 

 questions of what atomic weapons 

 really are, what they do individually, 

 and what would be the eflfects of set- 

 ting off the whole stock pile. I am not 

 saying that such scientific advice is not 

 sought (though I think it is not al- 

 ways adequately used). But I do say 

 that scientists need to be ready to help. 

 Yes, they may need to be ready to in- 

 trude with their advice even if it is not 

 asked for. 



This problem has, of course, caused 



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much recent trouble and misunder- 

 standing. Many prominent citizens, in- 

 cluding many politicians and editors, 

 apparently feel that scientists should 

 stick to the laboratory and let public 

 policy matters be handled by others. 

 Now no one argues that decisions on 

 public matters must be made by the 

 properly constituted responsible offi- 

 cials. But advice and information on 

 scientific aspects of the problem is 

 often essential and must come from 

 scientists. 



I fervently believe that the world 

 has been remade the past century- 

 remade physically, socially, and spirit- 

 ually—by the work of the inquiring 

 scholars. These scholars have sought 

 new knowledge and new understand- 

 ing; they have sought to use this un- 

 derstanding to produce those things 

 that men needed— or thought they 

 needed— to improve their health, their 

 comfort, their happiness, their secu- 

 rity. 



Scholars will continue these activi- 

 ties and the world will continue to 

 change. Their efforts must be aided; 

 for though what they do may yield 

 dangers, the dangers are far greater if 

 they do less. And since what they do 

 affects the world, affects you and me 

 and our communitv and our country, 

 we should have these inquiring and 

 active minds around all the time to di- 

 rect their attention to the most diffi- 

 cult of all problems— how to help men 

 make better use, in their relations with 

 each other, of the great new areas of 

 knowledge which can yield so much 

 to make men happier and better. 



1. Do you think the Malthusian Death 

 Sentence threatens the world today? 

 Explain. 



2. Wliich one, if any, of the following is 

 the ultimate goal of mankind: ade- 

 quate food for all, a healthy world, 

 impro\ed transportation or a warless 

 world? 



QUESTIONS 



3. What effects did scientific thinking 

 have on world progress? 



4. Refute this statement: "Original 

 thinkers are universally admired." 



5. Does Dr. DuBridge believe that scien- 

 tists should remain divorced from po- 

 litical matters involving scientific dis- 

 coveries and applications? 



