# Science is not a Panacea **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 26, 2014, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/science-is-not-a-panacea/687021 "2014-04-26T04:29:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2014, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/science-is-not-a-panacea/687021/101 "2014-04-28T22:35:16Z")
> [@zoid](#): > > I think this is the heart of the issue. > Science really doesn’t care what anyone else believes. Science cares when those beliefs lead to dangerous ends. No, not even that. Science as such calls nothing good or bad, makes no value-judgments of any kind. The whole human scientific enterprise is driven by one value-judgment – “Knowledge Is Good” (Emil Faber) – but no scientist would call even that a scientific fact. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2014, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/science-is-not-a-panacea/687021/102 "2014-04-28T22:37:12Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > I admit, in the past I’ve razed two or three cities, but I’m on medication now. :o The recovery process is difficult, I know. The First Step and the hardest part is admitting you have a problem. And don’t try to go cold turkey, that never works! Taper off! ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2014, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/science-is-not-a-panacea/687021/103 "2014-04-28T22:38:46Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I don’t know. If there _is_ a panacea, what other than science would it be? Beer. “The cause of, and cure for, all of life’s problems!” ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2014, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/science-is-not-a-panacea/687021/104 "2014-04-28T22:40:40Z")
> [@buddha\_david](#): > > Well, to play Devil’s Advocate (may I, Marge?) the esteemed Dr. Henry Jones, Jr. did specify _philosophy_ as the gateway to “truth”, not science. And when you take into account the ever-popular [xkcd Wikipedia Game](http://xkcd.com/903/) which always resolves to philosophy, not science, well – maybe science should at least recognize it’s not the top dog when it comes to discovering secrets of the universe, from the Ancient Greeks through modern day and beyond. [Depends on which science . . .](http://xkcd.com/435/) ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2014, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/science-is-not-a-panacea/687021/105 "2014-04-28T22:41:57Z")
> [@SiXSwordS](#): > > Wait! Zen!? Three pounds of flax. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2014, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/science-is-not-a-panacea/687021/106 "2014-04-28T22:48:17Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Trust in Count Dracula - at least _he_ isn’t a _Nazi._ Oh, no, of course not, he’s [Iron Guard](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_Guard)! (They were rather obsessed with purity of blood . . .) ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2014, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/science-is-not-a-panacea/687021/107 "2014-04-28T22:51:16Z")
Any discussion that can bring up both Illuminatus! and Animal House quotes is a panacea. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2014, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/science-is-not-a-panacea/687021/108 "2014-04-28T22:51:17Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > To be fair, it’s usually because _they_ are trying to destroy _him._ He should buck it up. [It’s a well-known professional risk.](http://www.theonion.com/articles/archaeologist-tired-of-unearthing-unspeakable-anci,1448/) ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2014, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/science-is-not-a-panacea/687021/109 "2014-04-28T22:53:31Z")
> [@morethanscience](#): > > sieg heil!! sieg fail! ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2014, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/science-is-not-a-panacea/687021/110 "2014-04-28T23:05:52Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I don’t know. If there _is_ a panacea, what other than science would it be? > [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Beer. “The cause of, and cure for, all of life’s problems!” Beer. I love beer. Beer is made from four basic ingredients: Barley, water, hops and yeast. The basic idea is to extract the sugars from grain so that the yeast can turn it into alcohol and CO2, creating beer. Science!!! ---
**Author:** ![FXMastermind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fxmastermind/32/7289_2.png) [@FXMastermind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FXMastermind)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2014, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/science-is-not-a-panacea/687021/111 "2014-04-28T23:21:04Z")
The issue of beer is more important than nazis ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2014, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/science-is-not-a-panacea/687021/112 "2014-04-28T23:36:34Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Beer. I love beer. Beer is made from four basic ingredients: Barley, water, hops and yeast. The basic idea is to extract the sugars from grain so that the yeast can turn it into alcohol and CO2, creating beer. Science!!! You jest, but it is likely that beer was a factor on kick-starting our human civilization. > **[Opinion | How Beer Gave Us Civilization (Published 2013)](https://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/17/opinion/sunday/how-beer-gave-us-civilization.html?_r=0)** > > Humans may have found brew before they found bread. It’s a lucky thing. Not too shabby for a drink. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2014, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/science-is-not-a-panacea/687021/113 "2014-04-28T23:44:59Z")
> [@FXMastermind](#): > > The issue of beer is more important than nazis [Nazis would agree, I hope!](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beer_hall_putsch) ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2014, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/science-is-not-a-panacea/687021/114 "2014-04-28T23:46:28Z")
> [@FXMastermind](#): > > The issue of beer is more important than nazis [The Nazis ruined everything, even beer.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beer_Hall_Putsch) On edit: But ninjas like **BrainGlutton** know the score. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2014, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/science-is-not-a-panacea/687021/115 "2014-04-28T23:49:45Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > If you don’t like fucking animals then YOU’RE A NAZI! The choice is bestiality or Nazism? :eek: ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2014, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/science-is-not-a-panacea/687021/116 "2014-04-28T23:52:03Z")
> [@Ranger\_Jeff](#): > > The choice is bestiality or Nazism? :eek: Now, now, calm down, there’s no need to choose! ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2014, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/science-is-not-a-panacea/687021/117 "2014-04-29T00:06:07Z")
> [@Ranger\_Jeff](#): > > The choice is bestiality or Nazism? :eek: > [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Now, now, calm down, there’s no need to choose! German Shepherds with swastikas on their collars? ---
**Author:** ![FXMastermind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fxmastermind/32/7289_2.png) [@FXMastermind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FXMastermind)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2014, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/science-is-not-a-panacea/687021/118 "2014-04-29T00:18:54Z")
You know who really fucked up religion and shit like that? Goddamn commies, that’s who. Everybody uses Nazis when comparing, but the goddamn commies, they have been far more destructive of religion and shit. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2014, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/science-is-not-a-panacea/687021/119 "2014-04-29T00:21:54Z")
**BG** , you sure do like to hear yourself talk. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2014, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/science-is-not-a-panacea/687021/120 "2014-04-29T00:51:22Z")
> [@FXMastermind](#): > > You know who really fucked up religion and shit like that? Goddamn commies, that’s who. Everybody uses Nazis when comparing, but the goddamn commies, they have been far more destructive of religion and shit. Agreed. “Communist Science” is almost purely oxymoronic. Lysenkoism is damn near as stupid as Nazi genetics. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/science-is-not-a-panacea/687021.md?page=5)