{"title":"The Universalism of Mathematics and its Detractors: Relativism and Radical Equalitarianism Threaten STEM Disciplines in the US","authors":"Sergiu Klainerman","doi":"10.1017/s1062798723000182","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"This is a modest personal attempt to understand the ideology behind the current antiscientific trends in STEM, and more specifically in mathematics. In simplified terms, these trends can be traced back to a growing imbalance between the old ideal of fairness based on individual merit and the increasingly predominant, unrealistic expectations of equality of outcomes in all areas of human activities. I draw on specific examples and various scientific studies to show how these trends undermine the teaching of science in the US and, increasingly, research in STEM disciplines.","PeriodicalId":46095,"journal":{"name":"European Review","volume":"44 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8000,"publicationDate":"2023-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"European Review","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1017/s1062798723000182","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"AREA STUDIES","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
This is a modest personal attempt to understand the ideology behind the current antiscientific trends in STEM, and more specifically in mathematics. In simplified terms, these trends can be traced back to a growing imbalance between the old ideal of fairness based on individual merit and the increasingly predominant, unrealistic expectations of equality of outcomes in all areas of human activities. I draw on specific examples and various scientific studies to show how these trends undermine the teaching of science in the US and, increasingly, research in STEM disciplines.
期刊介绍:
The European Review is a unique interdisciplinary international journal covering a wide range of subjects. It has a strong emphasis on Europe and on economics, history, social science, and general aspects of the sciences. At least two issues each year are devoted mainly or entirely to a single subject and deal in depth with a topic of contemporary importance in Europe; the other issues cover a wide range of subjects but may include a mini-review. Past issues have dealt with: Who owns the Human Genome; From decolonisation to post-colonialism; The future of the welfare state; Democracy in the 21st century; False confessions after repeated interrogation; Living in real and virtual worlds.