Why do we care about knowledge (such as RE or FE) that doesnt affect our lives?

Alot of people on this forum seem to be unsure whether the Earth is round or flat and dont seem to care either way anyway. Anyway so the question is the title

People will claim to "know" a lot of things. But in reality claiming to "know" something is meaningless unless you can demonstrate that knowledge.

Unfortunately, once someone gets the gall to speak authoritatively on a subject he has not confirmed or demonstrated people will naturally follow like dogs to the whistle. Our entire education system is built on myth.

They're still teaching children that Columbus' men mutinied against him because they thought they were going to fall off the edge.

I honestly don't care what shape the Earth is, I just enjoy the debates.

I honestly don't care what shape the Earth is, I just enjoy the noobs, they taste like sherbet limes.

Fixed.

You don't think being lied to and manipulated by your government affects your life?

No, because we are always being manipulated. (insert new conspiracy here)

No, because we are always being manipulated. (insert new conspiracy here)

So as long as the manipulation is constant, you feel comfortable ignoring it?

It seems that he was trying to say that whatever shape the Earth may be, we seem to be doing just fine, therefore knowledge pertaining to the true shape of the Earth is not particularly important. With that in mind, why do we care what shape it is?

To answer the OP's question; when people do not understand something, it bothers them, that's why science exists, because people want explanations for things. Religion exists -in some ways- for the same purpose, though it also deals with morality, whereas science deals purely with fact, or, at the very least, attempts to. Anyway, the point is, people want to know stuff, regardless of the impact said knowledge may have on their lives. As far as I can see, this site mainly deals in debate for the sake of debate and is in the spirit of challenging commonly held beliefs in order to further understanding of the topic at hand, which is the shape of the Earth.

No doubt someone will be here within the hour to pick my post apart and leave nothing but the twitching carcass in their wake, but that's my take on the question posed in this thread, and my answer to the aforementioned question. Go wild.

It seems that he was trying to say that whatever shape the Earth may be, we seem to be doing just fine, therefore knowledge pertaining to the true shape of the Earth is not particularly important. With that in mind, why do we care what shape it is?

Scientists care about a lot of things that don't affect our lives.  Knowledge is its own reward.

Quote from: Crudblud on October 04, 2009, 11:26:28 AM

It seems that he was trying to say that whatever shape the Earth may be, we seem to be doing just fine, therefore knowledge pertaining to the true shape of the Earth is not particularly important. With that in mind, why do we care what shape it is?

Scientists care about a lot of things that don't affect our lives.  Knowledge is its own reward.

I would go further and say that all knowledge affects our lives - admittedly some more than others, but the big leaps always tie in the many apparently non-useful but unexplained observations.

I agree with you, Roundy, I was attempting to clarify the OP question because no one else seemed to understand what he was asking, and also because I'm such a nice guy.

I agree with you, Roundy, I was attempting to clarify the OP question because no one else seemed to understand what he was asking, and also because I'm such a nice guy.

Yeah, and I realize now you even say as much later in the post.  My fault.

Alot of people on this forum seem to be unsure whether the Earth is round or flat and dont seem to care either way anyway. Anyway so the question is the title

And an excellent question it is. I don't have an answer, but posed the question to myself once. I am much less uptight ever since.