r/IntellectualDarkWeb • u/ConquestAce • 16d ago
Is defunding science and math education and research to address immediate social needs a pragmatic solution for today's crises or a dangerous compromise of humanity's future capacity to innovate and adapt?
Recently proposals to reduce public funding for science and math education, research, and innovation have been made, in the guise that these research fields are "DEI". We can argue that reallocating resources to immediate social programs (e.g., healthcare, poverty relief) addresses urgent human needs, while underinvesting in STEM jeopardizes long-term societal progress, technological sovereignty, and global competitiveness.
Is prioritizing short-term social investments over foundational scientific and mathematical inquiry a pragmatic strategy for addressing today’s crises, or a shortsighted gamble that undermines humanity’s capacity to solve future challenges? Obviously, deferring support for STEM disproportionately disadvantage future generations, but is it a moral imperative to prioritize present-day welfare? How might this decision shape a nation’s ability to tackle emerging threats like climate change, pandemics, or other stuff?
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u/fiktional_m3 16d ago
Are you talking about a hypothetical? What we are seeing today in the US is not a calculated attempt to prioritize present social issues over future scientific advancements . They are cutting programs to achieve some ridiculous goal of reduced government spending in areas they disagree with government involvement in.
They are not cutting the spending for any reason other than using tax dollars towards their own goals.
But if it is a hypothetical, i think it is not an either or situation. Knowledge should never be sacrificed because it can alleviate us of these problems. Science, math , technology is applied comprehension of the universe . Social issues greatly benefit from progress in this applied comprehension .