Posted on 04/26/2006 7:58:15 AM PDT by KMJames
In a new book about evolution, the story of the race to find fossils of the ultimate human ancestor intertwines with a human story of the single-minded dedication and competitiveness of the fossil hunters themselves.
Ann Gibbons, author of "The First Human: The Race to Discover Our Earliest Ancestors," will give a free lecture next week at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History.
Since 1990, she has covered human evolution for the journal Science, giving her what she called "a ringside seat" to follow the discoveries as they happened and the scientists who made them.
"These people have this grand passion for what they do, which is really exciting to be around," Ms. Gibbons said.
Her book chronicles the fossil finds that provide branches for the human family tree, including recent, particularly successful years dubbed the "decade of discovery."
...snip...
In addition to spelling out the scientific progress, the book also lays bare the sometimes fierce competition between scientists and consequent mean-spiritedness. Power comes with discovery of important fossils, Ms. Gibbons noted.
"It makes the reality TV shows look like child's play," she said. "It's a really difficult job and it has to be something that's their consuming passion."
...snip...
(Excerpt) Read more at post-gazette.com ...
Say it ain't so. These are 'sposed to be models of objectivity and rationalism.
Some folks think Science is rational and objective. It's actually highly "political" and driven by money. In other words, agenda-driven.
Did you mean to say the stakes were "small"? ... or rather "large"? I can't understand knock-down, drag-out fighting over a small prize.
But, yeah, I would think that $$$$ is the prime motivator - and in some cases - EGO.
Think about two starving men. The only food around is a slice of bread. Such a small amount of food -- that's why the two men will struggle so hard to be the one who eats it.
Academics sometimes have nothing to look forward to other than to get the office near the water cooler. And if it looks like that other professor might get that office ... LOOK OUT!!
I get it, thanks for the clarification. I suppose tunnel vision and over specialization in esoteric or (perceived) superfluous fields of endeavor leads to this behavior...not to mention character deficiencies.
Harmful politicization of Science by William Happer
http://72.14.207.104/search?q=cache:FlLm-ZhuvAcJ:www.hoover.org/publications/books/fulltext/polscience/27.pdf+nasa+politicized+ozone+hole+discovery+&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=4
Aliens Cause Global Warming - Michael Chrichton http://www.crichton-official.com/speeches/speeches_quote04.html
Here's what I learned: Science is a tool. The value of science is dependent on the skill and intention of those using the tool.
I'm glad you appreciated them. bttt
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