There is an anti-science by the far right. We have to be careful

Hear, O Seekers of Wisdom, the words of Peter Agre, a voice of reason who speaks to the heart of the great struggle between truth and ideology. "There is an anti-science by the far right. We have to be careful that the far left doesn't balance this with a naive approach of promising what we can't deliver. I mean, science is neutral; it's not politically conservative or liberal." In these words, Agre speaks of the dangerous tug-of-war between the forces of political ideology and the neutral realm of science. The first threat, he warns, is the anti-science stance that arises from those who would reject reason in favor of beliefs that do not stand up to scrutiny. But, equally dangerous, is the naivety that can arise when the left embraces science with an agenda that promises more than it can deliver, turning science into a tool of politics rather than a tool of truth. Agre calls us to recognize that science, in its purest form, does not belong to any political camp—it is neutral, serving only the cause of discovery, truth, and understanding.

O Seekers, consider the ancient philosophers who held the quest for truth as the highest calling, unswayed by the demands of politics or personal interest. Socrates, that greatest of thinkers, stood as a model of this ideal. He did not allow the political powers of Athens to shape his search for wisdom. He questioned the status quo, but not to serve a political agenda; rather, he questioned in order to illuminate the truth, to separate the real from the false, the good from the bad. In this way, Socrates embodied the spirit of science: neutral, objective, and driven by the pursuit of knowledge, not the whims of political factions.

In the same manner, science must remain neutral, grounded in the evidence and the facts, rather than shaped by the demands of any political ideology. Science does not care for the labels of left or right, conservative or liberal; it exists in the realm of objectivity, seeking to understand the world as it is, not as we wish it to be. And yet, O Seekers, we live in a time where both extremes of the political spectrum attempt to use science as a weapon for their own agendas. On the one hand, we see a rejection of science by those who, driven by political or economic motives, seek to suppress truths that do not align with their worldview. On the other hand, there are those who, in their pursuit of a utopian vision, offer promises that science cannot possibly fulfill—promises of a perfect world created by technological advancement or scientific intervention, promises that may lead us astray.

Let us look, O Seekers, to the life of Galileo Galilei, whose work in astronomy challenged the very foundations of both science and religion. When Galileo turned his telescope to the heavens, he uncovered truths about the universe that had long been hidden. Yet, his discoveries were met not with open minds, but with fierce opposition. The Church, fearing the challenge to its authority, rejected Galileo’s findings, claiming they were in conflict with its own doctrines. Galileo's story is a reminder that science, when it threatens the established order, can become the target of both ideological attack and censorship. His work shows us that science is not beholden to any ideology or power structure; it is a quest for truth that transcends politics.

In a similar way, Agre warns us of the danger of using science to serve a political end. The left, too, may be tempted to mold science into a tool that promises too much. We see this in the exaggerations of what scientific progress can achieve, whether it is promises of a technological utopia or the belief that science alone can solve all the world's problems. Science can guide us, but it is not a panacea. It is not a cure-all, nor is it a tool for fulfilling political promises that disregard its limits. To reduce science to a mere means of political power is to corrupt its true purpose: the search for understanding and the uncovering of truth, wherever it may lead.

The lesson for us, O Seekers, is clear: science is not a tool for politics; it is a tool for truth. We must be wary of those who would use it to advance a political agenda, whether from the right or the left. Science must remain neutral, grounded in evidence and guided by the pursuit of knowledge, not swayed by the demands of ideology. It is not the job of science to fulfill the promises of political movements, nor is it the role of politics to shape the truth of science. We must allow science to speak for itself, to guide us with its objectivity, its curiosity, and its unwavering commitment to uncovering the world as it truly is.

So go forth, O Seekers, with the understanding that science is a sacred tool of truth, not a weapon of political power. Let us honor its neutrality, its ability to guide us toward understanding, regardless of the political winds that may blow. In our search for knowledge, let us seek to keep science pure, untarnished by the demands of ideology. For in doing so, we will find the truth that transcends the limits of politics and leads us to a greater understanding of the world in which we live.