The Freedom to Question, How past scientists got into trouble!

David A. Larrabee

East Stroudsburg University Physics Department

Presented at

"Freedom Threatened: Teaching in Today's Politically Charged Environment"

at Gettysburg College March 24, 2006

Abstract

Do scientists/philosophers have the right to question their religious beliefs and political situation without reprisals?  Historically, many scientists/philosophers have had to keep their religious beliefs relatively quiet to avoid problems with the church.  Newton’s principia for instance underwent changes so that he could avoid charges of being an Atheist (which he wasn’t).  David Hume was denied a Professorship of Philosophy at the University of Edinburgh in 1745 because he was charged with heresy, skepticism and atheism.  Charges brought because of his past publications. 

By the middle 1970's it seems that the relationship between science and theology had become one of at least peaceful coexistence.  Yet in December 2005 congress had to pass a bill outlawing political tests for scientific advisors and to outlaw the "dissemination of "scientific information that is deliberately false or misleading" for 3 governmental agencies.  Even after the Dover decision on intelligent design, efforts are still underway to have intelligent design taught as an alternative to science. It seems the clock is running backwards.

We will argue that the basic conflict is between the primacy of the question or the answer.  The Freedom to question has never really been guaranteed, if we want this freedom, we will need to fight to keep it.