356. Title & Author: Science,
Technology, and Government by Murray N. Rothbard (118 pages)
Genre: Nonfiction--Politics
Completed: 14 June 2016
Summary
& Review:
American economist Murray Rothbard
examines the proper role government should play in research and development of
science and technology. Written in 1959, the book addresses the concerns that
the Soviet "planned" approach was a more effective approach to scientific
research. Rothbard explains and gives evidence that the truth is actually the
exact opposite: the more government gets involved research the less innovation
and advancements there are. He states, "Government control of science,
government planning of science, is bound to result in the politicization of
science, the substitute or political goals and political criteria for
scientific ones." In short, government should "avoid interfering
positively in the free market on in scientific inquiry, and confine itself to
changing the provisions of its own rules and laws that hamper free scientific
research."
I've seen
Rothbard mentioned a lot in various free market texts, books, and articles I've
read so I was glad to finally get to read some of his own writings. He, like
many other great Austrian economists, was very deft at explaining his arguments
clearly and succinctly. One of my favorite chapters in this book was his
discussion of how to improve science education. It seems like the same
hackneyed arguments that people trot out today have already been repeatedly
proven incorrect time and time again. Yet, somehow they keep cropping up--the
more things change, and all that. Rothbard says, "The entire philosophy of
public education in this country needs an overhauling...Our schools must once
again regard it as their basic function to teach subjects, to encourage the
rapid maturation of bright young minds. The present educational structure drags
all the students down to the level of the lowest common denominator, passes all
students, teaches rubbish rather than subject disciplines, and allows hooligans
to widen their 'self-expression' by tormenting and distracting those eager to
learn." Sound familiar?
Rating: 7.0
No comments:
Post a Comment