Before the third proseminar, we were asked to read the third chapter of Why Trust Science (the notes of which are in this post). The chapter explored how there is a layer of invisibility in scientific world-making, the time period and reasons due to which science and technology become two separate disciplines and why we may need an epistemology of frozen peas.

The proseminar, while starting from this, turned into a discussion of why knowledge became commoditised and how people from different socio-economic classes have different starting points. Due to this, a standard metric for testing knowledge is immensely unfair.

We explored why other disciplines, such as art and literature, are still prevalent in modern day society but science is excluded from the public.

<aside> 💭 Knowledge is now serving systems, rather than individuals.

</aside>

We also looked at the preciousness of knowledge in the information age, why we’re okay with certain people having access to knowledge (my head bringing about instances of open-source practices) and our relationship with fundamental knowledge. Snehaja discussed how she’s never able to explain exactly what she’s doing because the society cannot think beyond prevalent structures. Open-ended thinking can also be an acceptable path.

In the end, I questioned the larger purpose of the Xperimenters and the SGB and how we can even hope to make a difference when the problem is so massive and conflicting; almost impossible. I was looking at it the wrong way. A difference cannot be brought overnight but only with incremental steps. 4 “young adults”, today, are being exposed to the history and social + cultural aspects of science, a systematic body and practice of knowledge, being trained in relevant practices and exploring how different disciplines can come together to create something far more meaningful than work done in isolation.4 individuals out of 138 crore Indian people are going to go out into the world and apply the scientific method / temperament to everything they do and slowly, pass it on to other people.

If we hadn’t realised it already, the first batch of Xperimenters are beacons in a consistently darkening world and maybe, just maybe, we’re capable of bringing about a little bit of change and disrupting (rather subtly) the way we look at things in today’s world.

Or at least that’s the hope. The responsibility and passion shared by the team is something I truly wish to reciprocate, respect and cultivate throughout my life.

Oh and here are the notes from the lecture. Almost forgot ... got a little too fired up :P