A response to "Nature and role of science relative to RH bill"

Flor Lacanilao, a retired professor of marine science, University of the Philippines Diliman, wrote a Letter-to-the-Editor and was published in the 3 September 2012 issue of  PDI entitled "Nature and role of science relative to RH bill". I thought of commenting on some of the scientist's assertions:

The objectives of science, as I learned, are not to find the truth. They are aimed to understand nature and the universe, so that researchers and the government can plan and act for the people’s well-being. Many studies are meant to support scientific consensus, as in evolution and climate change. Hence, these are factual conclusions—supported by valid data. They are not permanent truth; they can be changed by more studies. This is the progressive nature of science.

Science is not to seek permanent truth anymore but only well-being?! I wonder if other scientists agree with that definition of science.

As from what I gathered from my undergraduate studies in a public state university, science seeks the Truth about the physical world regardless of whether or not it will benefit well-being of peoples. Well-being is just one of the consequences of science: Theoretical Physics, for example, does not aim directly to improve well-being of people. The apparent non-permanence of scientific truth is due to the piece-meal approach of many studies. Instead by seeing nature of science as "progressive", I see it as "incremental".

On Australian blogger Brian Gorrell

Dear Editor,

I read several articles in Philippine Daily Inquirer (PDI) on the Australian blogger Brian Gorrell.

I became curious of what PDI wrote about him. I logged on to the internet and searched his blog.

I was shocked by what I read! Can his allegations be true?

Questions came up to my mind: Is injuring people's reputation a fair revenge for allegedly being swindled of one's hard-earned $70,000 material wealth? Are people's reputation less valuable than money?

I am also saddened by the readers' comments that mostly accepted the allegations as true. But it seems that the charges have not been proven beyond reasonable doubt. In ethics books, it says that one ought not to assume as true, even tacitly, without sufficient foundation, the moral fault of another person. If one does, one is guilty of RASH JUDGMENT and injures, in one's mind, the reputation of the other person. Reading the comments, it appears that so many rash judgments have been committed. How easily people believe on negative things about people!

Even if Mr. Gorrell's allegations are true, one ought not to disclose, without objectively valid reason, people's faults and failings to the unsuspecting public. There is such a thing as DETRACTION, wherein, a person's reputation is injured by exposing his faults and failings to those who do not know them.

Much worse, if the allegations are false. It is CALUMNY, a grave injustice to innocent people.

As one ethics book explains "detraction and calumny destroy the reputation and honor of one's neighbor. Honor is the social witness given to human dignity, and everyone enjoys a natural right to the honor of his name and reputation and to respect. Thus, detraction and calumny offend against the virtues of justice and charity." (CCC 2479)

Even if the offense to Brian Gorrell is true, he is still not blameless. He should know better. He should have placed things in writing. Even if they are best of friends, as he alleged.

We can also give Mr. Gorrell the benefit of the doubt that he mistakenly trusted the person too much. No one is perfect. But what is $70,000 to a guy who writes and takes picture well. He can earn it again. He should just leave to the Almighty God the retribution and justice he desires. After all, one cannot bring to one's grave one's riches.

The issue, then, here is reputation of persons against money. We cannot discount the possibility that there is blackmail being committed. It is saddening to realize that PDI is allowing itself to be used, for free, to a possible destruction of people's reputation.

Don't get me wrong. I do not know the people Brian Gorrell are "leaving under the sun to dry". I do not belong to the moneyed and propertied-social class. I just came to know about this through your PDI articles. I am not grateful to PDI for letting me know this. This is not worth the ink and newsprint paper PDI spends. It is a shame. It gives a bad after taste. Let the others do it, not PDI.

Thank you for your time and I hope PDI will think twice next time in assisting character assassination by featuring them, free of charge.

Note: This letter was published April 13, 2008. To read the online version, click HERE or copy and paste to the browser this link: http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/entertainment/entertainment/view/20080413-130043/Feedback