Curated Tumblr

At the most basic level: yes it really is that simple.

But there is some nuance here.

Science can tell you how to efficiently achieve your goals, but it can’t tell you what your goals should be.

And we have certain constraints that we want to uphold, even if they limit how effective we can be in achieving our goals. (Eugenics is a prime example there.)

And finally, the assumptions that we start with, the questions we decide to ask, and the explanatory models that we build are all culturally-defined. They aren’t completely arbitrary, but they do involve a degree of personal judgment.

I say this not to disparage science (I fucking love science), but to make sure that we understand that we aren’t off the hook for having moral agency even if we believe we are merely pursuing efficacy. We’ve seen regimes that decided to value efficacy above all else, and the inhuman results that can occur.

Also, Dr. Fatima’s videos have programmed me to think about this stuff automatically.

Some good ones:

• Quantum Physics, Feminism, & Objective Reality
• Gravity Is A Social Construct, And That’s Ok
• How Fascists Construct Scientific Ignorance