Issue41 [老兵小组]第六次作业（主流科学，非主流科学，作用）

michael_1984UID: 2327441

Issue 41(No.6)
"Such nonmainstream areas of inquiry as astrology, fortune-telling, and psychic and paranormal pursuits play a vital role in society by satisfying human needs that are not addressed by mainstream science."
nonmainstream ----- irrational pursuits

1,nonmainstream 存在的原因，一定程度上能够满足人们的渴望和好奇心，或是给人一种心理慰藉。(星座，占星术，财富预言)
2，不是nonmainstream对社会的发展起关键作用，是mainstream science，举例：工业革命
3，过度的迷信nonmainstream会对社会造成危害，圣战、恐怖主义

Can nonmainstream areas of inquiry such as astrology, fortune-telling, and psychic and paranormal pursuits satisfy human needs that are not tackled by mainstream science? And are the nonmainstream areas play a vital role in society? In a sense, I concede that nonmainstream areas of inquiry can cater exclusively to human inborn curiosities which may not be satisfied by mainstream science of the time, however I disagree that nonmainstream areas of inquiry play a vital role in society. In stead, it is mainstream sciences that contribute to the development of society and human. Moreover, to some extent, to insist on this irrational pursuit can lead to harmful results.

Admittedly, not the mainstream science but the astrology, fortune-telling, and psychic and paranormal pursuits satisfy human special curiosities other than basic needs. Some people use constellation to define their characteristic, to judge whether couples are suitable and if they have the fate to have a boy in future. When confronting with something dilemma or complexity that cannot be understood or explained through mainstream scientific methods, some people will resort to the astrology or fortune-telling to resolve the problems. Moreover, to some extent, the aguish caused by losing close friends or family members can be relieved by some kinds of irrational pursuits. The presumptions of the existence of “regression of past life” and “channeling” are result of the human enduring search for a way to connect with their past loved persons. None of any mainstream sciences can satisfy them with such thirst, consequently some irrational ideas came into their mind.

In addition, to some extent, the existence of nonmainstream irrational pursuits has its own value, in other words, it has some active functions to society and human. In modern times, the pressures keep rise accompanying with the increased development of industrialization, more and more people will find psychological solace from nonmainstream inquiry.

Nevertheless, the speaker unfairly asserts that the irrational pursuits play a vital role in society; instead, it is mainstream sciences that contribute to the development of society. No one can deny that every significant progress of society results from improvements of science and reformations of technology. The First Industrial Revolution was characterized by spinning jenny, water-powered frame, which make the factory system replace the cottage industry, and later the invention of steam engines providing a faster mode of transportation. All of theses improved the quality of people’s life, which only attribute to mainstream sciences. Nonmainstream inquiries contribute iota to these developments of human and society.

In addition, extraordinary insistent on nonmainstream inquiry pursuits may lead to harmful results to society owning to its irrational and unreasonable actions. To the extent on a personal level, stubborn adherence to irrational belief in face of reason and empirical evidence can cause self-righteous arrogances, intolerance, antisocial behaviors, and even hatreds. The cogent example include the holy war and terrorism, the participants are almost all under the instigation from the irrational pursuits. In other words, these irrational pursuits may conduct people who previously would not have the courage to present abnormal behaviors to take strange actions.

To sum up, though nonmainstream areas inquiry to some extent can relieve human metal suffering and satisfy special curiosities, it cannot play the crucial role in society due to the feature of irrationality and unreasoning. Moreover, the irrational inquiry may lead to detrimental consequences to society. It is the mainstream sciences play a vital role in society.