Dario Greggio (in giro) wrote:

> James Newtons Massmind wrote:
>
>> I wonder if gardening wouldn't have been a better choice.

Well, only you can tell... but then, there's not much of a point to it, is
there? :)  Unless, of course, you're talking about your choice for today
(or tomorrow).


> I have a deep, strong belief in engineering: thus I believe it can help
> solve most of world's problems. 

I think several thousand years of engineering have shown that engineering
doesn't primarily solve problems. It creates as many as it solves. It can
shove problems around from one area to another, but in general it doesn't
actually solve problems -- at least not in the long run. It mostly helps
the powerful to shove the problems from where they don't want them to where
they want them (or better, to where they don't care about them). Some
possible exceptions granted (but I'm not sure there are exceptions).

I also think that expecting a miracle answer from a miracle scientist or
engineer or magician or priest is a dream older than snake oil :)  And
possibly this dream is the root of many of the persistent problems we're
facing (and have been facing for millennia). 

> The matter lies in "psychology, ethics, philosophy", IMO... so we can do
> our best, but other kind of scientists (and human beings too) should
> contribute too...

IMO the "and human beings too" is the key here. 

Gerhard

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