empire of the undergrowth population level

Since its origins, modern science has emphasized that “nature” is harsh, and often rallies against us, and so, following Francis Bacon (1561-1626), has come to see itself as a method of mastering nature, “for the relief of man’s estate.” Henceforth, “utility” was science’s purpose, not wisdom, and nature was there not to be contemplated, but conquered. I had blogged here and here in the early days of Covid 19 cautioning against the folly of relying on expert advice and urged a more nuanced approach that sought to accommodate and co-exist with the virus.Īnanth points to a very good essay by Norman Doidge who provides a perspective on human beings search for solutions that seek to 'eliminate' the virus.īut modern science sees knowledge as power-and science as a means to other, greater, more useful and more practical ends. It should have been a sobering reminder about the limitations of experts and expert advice. In the last eighteen months, expert opinion has vacillated from one idea to another, one moment advocating something to debunking the same a few weeks later. Not even claims of having developed vaccines in remarkably quick time can gloss over the reality that we still do not know how it originated and spread, what holds for us in terms of future mutations, the timing and nature of a possible third wave etc.

The global response to Covid 19 has been a teachable moment illustrating the limited boundaries of our knowledge.

Empire of the undergrowth population level