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Let me explain the sense in which I use "destiny": suppose you wanted to make a mark as a physicist. You would have to learn a fair amount, in order to not "reinvent the wheel", and also to see what the outstanding problems were, to evaluate promising lines of research and/or theorizing. The future of physics lies in just such promising lines of research, or in outstanding knots and riddles that ambition people might tackle. Therefore, its destiny is contained in that stimulus, and in that response, and without a dedication to the ongoing enterprise of science, one would make no mark at all...The science of statistical sampling relies upon, and validates, the importance of various sociological determinants, not only ethnicity, but sex, religion, educational attainment, class background, present income, region, etc. The more detailed the set of determinants used, the more accurately you can predict voting patterns, buying preferences, tastes in movies and music, and so forth. The relations are complex, and there remains room for idiosyncracy, but it works amazingly well. therefore, we are more social products in our identities than we may even be conscious of...Finally, the question really revolves around whether or not it is important to try to contribute to society, and what level of society will command particular allegiance, apart from family or church, at least. |
