Fact is not Opinion

In 1859, in Italy, an elementary school education became mandatory for children up until the second grade, and then in 1910 until the 5th grade. The government gave this right to all children entitling them to an education. Where would we be if this had not happened?

Even before that time, in the 1700’s, through study, research and scientific innovation, man was liberated from superstition, misery, fatigue and illness. Progress was favoured, praised and scientific discussion was accessible. In the 1900’s, however, a more specialistic approach to education began to replace general knowledge. Moving forward, general mechanics became quantum mechanics, and courses in basic mathematics became courses in algorithms. Today, man uses advances in science and technology in the 21st century on a daily basis, but there is less understanding of the technology we are actually using. A farmer was always able to understand the mechanics of his tractor, which he used everyday. I use a computer every day, but do not pretend to understand the first thing about its inner-workings.

What is curious, however, is that there has never before been such a time in history in which people wholeheartedly accept and trust hi-tech gadgets produced by scientific advances, which they know nothing about. Yet, at the same-time, there are those ready to blatantly reject scientific fact, as in the case of the No-Vax movement. Right now, it is a fact that COVID cases requiring hospitalisation are drastically lower than they were the same time last year. The vaccine works. There is statistical evidence proving this. Yet, more and more people are losing the ability to distinguish information from misinformation, and information is coming at us faster than ever. What is the answer to this? The rules of society predicted this a long time ago…education!!