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The lonely 6 percent

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BobSoWal Insider
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Science: The lonely 6% | The Economist lonely 6%

Dec 9th 2010, 18:35 by M.S.

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DANIEL SAREWITZ devotes an entire column in Slate to the fact that only 6% of scientists self-identify as Republicans (55% self-identify as Democrats) without offering even a hypothetical explanation of how this situation might have come about. This is as close as he gets:

It doesn't seem plausible that the dearth of Republican scientists has the same causes as the under-representation of women or minorities in science. I doubt that teachers are telling young Republicans that math is too hard for them, as they sometimes do with girls; or that socioeconomic factors are making it difficult for Republican students to succeed in science, as is the case for some ethnic minority groups. The idea of mentorship programs for Republican science students, or scholarship programs to attract Republican students to scientific fields, seems laughable, if delightfully ironic.

Yet there is clearly something going on that is as yet barely acknowledged, let alone understood. As a first step, leaders of the scientific community should be willing to investigate and discuss the issue.

I can think of three testable hypotheses they might look into. The first is that scientists are hostile towards Republicans, which scares young Republicans away from careers in science. The second is that Republicans are hostile towards science, and don't want to go into careers in science. The third is that young people who go into the sciences tend to end up becoming Democrats, due to factors inherent in the practice of science or to peer-group identification with other scientists. In the absence of data, I leave it to you to decide which you find most plausible. But by all means, social scientists should look into this.

Replies

71
walk the walk avatar
walk the walkBeach Fanatic
#27
I don't think Isalm is immune to crticism. All you have to do is listen to Bill Maher, Sam Harris, and Christopher Hitchens. I do think there is a little more of a fear factor involved with criticism of Islam.

The other thing is that in this country Christianity is a little more in your face and you have people whining about the bogus "war on Christmas". Harry Reid gets criticized for wanting to work through Christmas. It's ridiculous. Then of course you have people insisting that we are a Christian nation because some of our long-dead founders might have attended Christian churches and therefore 250 years later so should I. I could see how a reasonable logical rational scientific person would want no part of that B.S. . So in my scientific opinion I don't see what the Media's treatment of Islam has to do with anything.
No one is forcing you to go to chuch Sam.Choose as you will.When Islam is criticized,all the Islamic buffoons threaten and do do blow up things.You would not dare to publicly criticize Islam outside of this country,you would not be safe.
LuciferSam avatar
LuciferSamBanned
#28
Can't we have come from amino acid and H20 and God? After all, someone had to create that stuff. I don't believe the two are mutually exclusive, and am convinced that as our understanding evolves we will find that God and science are intricately woven.

See that's the part I don't buy is that someONE had to create that stuff since I think someONE is made of that stuff. So that stuff had to exist to begin with. I think it's more likely that "that stuff" eventually became someone. No creation necessary.
LuciferSam avatar
LuciferSamBanned
#29
No one is forcing you to go to chuch Sam.Choose as you will.When Islam is criticized,all the Islamic buffoons threaten and do do blow up things.You would not dare to publicly criticize Islam outside of this country,you would not be safe.

I am not worried about Christian buffoons forcing me to go to church.:roll: (note: not all Christians are buffoons, only the imaginary ones who would try to force me to go to church)

Edited

Bob avatar
BobSoWal InsiderAuthor
#30
thinking caps all around for xmas.....think and yee be free!
Bob avatar
BobSoWal InsiderAuthor
#31
I am not worried about Christian buffoons forcing me to go to church.:roll: (note: not all Christians are buffoons, only the imaginary ones who would try to force me to go to church)
did you say descended from baboons?
LuciferSam avatar
LuciferSamBanned
#32
did you say descended from baboons?

Baffoons?:lol: Bubboons?:funn: Nevermind H2o and amino acids, why couldn't God be a chimpanzee?

Edited

AnaEdwardsPhotography avatar
AnaEdwardsPhotographyBeach Comber
#33
I normally avoid religious and political discussions like the plague, as there is not usually a chance of swaying one's beliefs through any amount of discussion...and with this I am only offering an explanation to the original concept of this post.

Science in itself goes against most religious beliefs, with nothing but facts as it's basis...actually, in it's entirety. If you've ever taken a class in anthropology you've felt the tension between those who absorb the material and those who dispute it. There will always be a battle between those who believe in Creation and those who believe in Evolution, even though anthropology teaches us the 'Eve theory' offering a melding of the two mindsets.

When discussing homosexuality, psychology courses educate students that sexual preference is most often determined in the womb, and not always brought on by overbearing mothers or sexual abuse...as has been told to us for decades.

Sociology classes broaden the minds of students enabling them to better understand groups of people in our own society, who may be 'different' than our own families with regard to religion, heritage, or socio-economic status...and the choices they make in the best interest of themselves or their collective groups.

With Republicans being conservative in their beliefs towards religion, homosexuality, abortion... it is no surprise to me that not many would end up in a science-based career.

For example, the science of medicine would be hard to be a part of if your conservative political beliefs and values prevented you from wholeheartedly caring for your patients.

Did I mention my degree is in psychology? 🙂 I would have to do research, but I would be willing to bet there are more scientists in the social sciences and health-related fields than any other division...which would definitely explain the political partisanship.

Edited

poppyBanned
#34
highly ironic you quote jefferson, he would have nothing to do with your thinking

And he can't even get that right, here is the actual quote-

"if we can but prevent the government from wasting the labours of the people, under the pretence of taking care of them, they must become happy." - Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Cooper, 29 November 1802[1]
Abby Prentiss avatar
Abby PrentissBeach Fanatic
#35
I normally avoid religious and political discussions like the plague, as there is not usually a chance of swaying one's beliefs through any amount of discussion...and with this I am only offering an explanation to the original concept of this post.
Does your reason for discussing something have be to change someone's mind? Sadly I think a lot of people avoid discussing things for fear their own mind may change.

Science in itself goes against most religious beliefs, with nothing but facts as it's basis...actually, in it's entirety.
I don't believe science is against religion. But if what you say is true and science is fact then is it religion that goes against science?

If you've ever taken a class in anthropology you've felt the tension between those who absorb the material and those who dispute it. There will always be a battle between those who believe in Creation and those who believe in Evolution, even though anthropology teaches us the 'Eve theory' offering a melding of the two mindsets.
Or evolution continues to the point that creationism no longer exists.

When discussing homosexuality, psychology courses educate students that sexual preference is most often determined in the womb, and not always brought on by overbearing mothers or sexual abuse...as has been told to us for decades.
Not sure how this is relevant or what your point is.

Sociology classes broaden the minds of students enabling them to better understand groups of people in our own society, who may be 'different' than our own families with regard to religion, heritage, or socio-economic status...and the choices they make in the best interest of themselves or their collective groups.

With Republicans being conservative in their beliefs towards religion, homosexuality, abortion... it is no surprise to me that not many would end up in a science-based career.

For example, the science of medicine would be hard to be a part of if your conservative political beliefs and values prevented you from wholeheartedly caring for your patients.
I am sure many graduates have an open heart when they begin their careers but they become part of a system of medicine in this country that is driven by profit and ego.
Abby Prentiss avatar
Abby PrentissBeach Fanatic
#36
No one is forcing you to go to chuch Sam.Choose as you will.When Islam is criticized,all the Islamic buffoons threaten and do do blow up things.You would not dare to publicly criticize Islam outside of this country,you would not be safe.

Believe it or not, America is not the only cool place in the world. Ever left Bay County? :roll:
Abby Prentiss avatar
Abby PrentissBeach Fanatic
#37
I hope this makes you feel better about yourself because I think it is ridiculous. Who cares if scientist are 6% Republicans? This is a troll post.

You don't care that only 6% of scientists are republican? I find it fascinating and I am not political. Sounds like you are offended. Why?
walk the walk avatar
walk the walkBeach Fanatic
#38
Believe it or not, America is not the only cool place in the world. Ever left Bay County? :roll:
Yes Abby,I have been out of Bay County several times,not sure what you mean,can you explain your reference to leaving BAY county?
beachmouse avatar
beachmouseBeach Fanatic
#39
Science in itself goes against most religious beliefs, with nothing but facts as it's basis...actually, in it's entirety.

The RC Church's treatment of Galileo notwithstanding, there's actually a very long and significant history of Christianity supporting scientific research and endeavours in an attempt to better understand God's creation. Look at the Jesuits and their ongoing quests for to both learn and then teach qwhat they learn at the highest possible levels.
Rita avatar
Ritamargarita brocolia
#40
Science in itself goes against most religious beliefs, with nothing but facts as it's basis...actually, in it's entirety.
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:confused:
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My husband studied evolution in a Catholic seminary. It was part of a well-rounded science program. I'm thinking they probably left the soul part to God and allowed for the study of the evolution theory and natural selection separately.



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