Andrew Sullivan doesn’t speak for research

Daniel Kammen-Research for helping people

During my blogging hiatus, Andrew Sullivan waded into the race and IQ debate yet again. While throwing his usual tantrum on the issue (ably refuted by herehere and here), Sullivan stunningly claims that “research is not about helping people; it’s about finding out stuff.”

Hey, I studied numerical relativity and space plasma physics. I get why some research is not about helping people. But, to continue with a hobbyhorse of mine, broad statements on a $1 trillion enterprise don’t mean much. Some research is for helping people and some for discovery. Sullivan does not have the authority to speak for all research, and he shouldn’t pretend he does.

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