Are Science and Math a Waste of Time?

This recent post on Physics and Physcists inspired me to comment.

Mathematics And Science - A "Waste Of Time"

Essentially, ZapperZ's post reports Trent Lott claiming for a soon to be lawyer, math and science is a waste of time. Here is the link from that post (Physics: 'A Waste of Time'? - Huffington Post)

My Response

In some way, I agree with Trent Lott. Really, it depends on what you think the purpose of a college-level education is for (or really any education). Lott must be thinking the college is about preparing students for jobs. If that is true, he would be correct. Think about it. If you are a lawyer (other than a patent lawyer) will you ever be looking at conservation of momentum? Stop. I know you are thinking of all these special cases. What if there were a car accident? What if something fell off of a speeding boat? What if there was a lawsuit over someone cheating on a physics test? You sure would need to know some physics then - right? No. You would call an expert witness (I guess).

Here is the other common response to "lawyers don't need physics". Someone (and I know who you are) would say: sure, they don't actually need physics. However, physics can help the lawyers think in a logical and problem solving way. The same is true for math. Yes. I agree that this would help a lawyer. However, they still don't NEED it. Go and survey a whole bunch of lawyers. How many actually use physics in their job? It is probably close to zero. (Next someone in the comments will point out that such a survey exists and it will show just how wildly wrong I am. Bring it.)

What is the purpose of education?

The above discussion assumes education is about job training. It totally is not (well, at least I don't think so). Education is about being human. Let me go ahead and include my favorite Robert Heinlein quote:

"A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly."

And I agree. We study these things (art, history, music, literature, and yes science) because that is what makes us human. Will studying these things make us better at our jobs? This is a Feynman quote:

"Physics is like sex: sure, it may give some practical results, but that's not why we do it."

So, in that regard Lott is wrong. Science and Maths are no more a waste of time than a fine wine or enjoying the sunshine on a bright sunny day. Humans. Go figure.