Widespread knowledge of which science would be most valuable to the great good.

[MonDie]

I'm just curious. Given the importance of knowledge to ethical decision making, I thought it would be an interesting question. What area of knowledge would lead to people becoming more efficient and/or making better decisions in the world? Please make your case. Please note that knowledge means scientific knowledge and not any pseudoscience that may happen to be associated with that field.

 

Moderators, feel free to edit my poll choices if you do not like them.

Edited December 22, 2016 by MonDie

[Strange]

Philosophy and critical thinking skills.

[Sriman Dutta]

Mathematics, perhaps...

But, all subjects are equally significant for human knowledge is not restricted to any particular topic.

[CharonY]

Knowledge in isolation will have far less impact. Also many of the categories do not make much sense to me...

[Prometheus]

Surely we want to have some people narrowly focusing on one subject while others straddle a few subjects.

 

But which is more important is bit like asking which organ is most important. You might think brain or heart at first, but try living without an anus - things will get shitty pretty quickly.

[Strange]

It is a bit like the regular threads on "best programming language". The actual subject (language) is less important than the underlying skills.

[Sensei]

Mathematics, perhaps...

But, all subjects are equally significant for human knowledge is not restricted to any particular topic.

 

If you know physics (quantum physics, not just classic physics),

you have to know mathematics, probability theory and statistics,

computer science (programming),

chemistry and organic chemistry (and environmental science) to some extent..

Edited December 23, 2016 by Sensei

[Sriman Dutta]

Of course. And that's the reason why I said that no single subject is of utmost significance.

[Klaynos]

"making better decisions in the world" lead me to environmental science. If we break our environment it doesn't matter what other decisions we make.

 

But I do strongly agree with the wider points made by others above.

[Ophiolite]

All of the above, as per the poll choices.

 

Probability Theory and Statistics if one had to pick only one, since it encourages and facilitates critical thinking and objective analysis of all subjects.

 

(Or add Geology, since all those trained in geology are known to be exceptionally knowledgeable and unbelievably humble.)

[Strange]

(Or add Geology, since all those trained in geology are known to be exceptionally knowledgeable and unbelievably humble.)

 

 

You are right. It is unbelievable.

[geordief]

Good question.It has to be environmental science.It is the most pressing need and (as do other disciplines) it feeds into and from the other disciplines,

 

What could be more fundamental or potentially beneficial than the study of how living and non living things are inter connected and relate to each other and to their surroundings?

 

If circumstances were not so pressing it could get overlooked as "part of the landscape" but not now.

Edited December 23, 2016 by geordief

[MonDie]

Of course all areas of knowledge are important and will be beneficial in the hands of the population at large with few exceptions, e.g. knowledge to make weapons, but let's not therefore conclude on a Dodo bird verdict. Clearly some areas of knowledge will have more benefit per person per hour of study, and however you want to quantify knowledge, there is probably a higher or lower average or median amount of knowledge for different subject matters. I had to include medical science when I realized that a healthier population would probably have better cognitive function and thus more knowledge, but any science that will save lives or makes life easier will arguably increase the amount of time we can spend learning.

PS forgive the typos. I rushed.

All of the above, as per the poll choices.

 

Probability Theory and Statistics if one had to pick only one, since it encourages and facilitates critical thinking and objective analysis of all subjects.

 

(Or add Geology, since all those trained in geology are known to be exceptionally knowledgeable and unbelievably humble.)

 

Are you suggesting that geology is under studied because geologists are not glorified in the way doctors, physicists, and engineers are? Maybe people find geology to be a relatively dull when physicists are explaining the origin of the universe and countless television shows depict doctors rushing to save lives in the intensive care unit. What kind of utility would geological knowledge have in the hands of ordinary citizens?

Edited December 26, 2016 by MonDie

[Delta1212]

Knowledge in isolation will have far less impact. Also many of the categories do not make much sense to me...

Seconding this. Knowledge builds upon itself. The more you know, the better off you will be. Asking which subject is most important is like asking which load bearing beam is most necessary for holding up the building: a bit pointless since it'll collapse if any of them are removed.