Science and Government

Abstract

The aim of science is so to elucidate the workings of the natural world that that world can be explained or at least described by scientific laws. Theoretically, when this stage is reached, natural events become not only explicable but also predictable. Especially in a democracy it is important that government should be able to understand and to predict the behaviour of the people. If a government fails to appreciate the ways in which the people will react to acts of government, that government is unlikely to remain in power for long no matter how high-principled it may be. All politicians therefore realise that there is little point in having high motives if the reins are not in your hands. The attainment of power, and after that the maintenance of power, are the two main aims of those who aspire to govern. All else is subject to these.