"Pure" Science?

This week in class, our discussion focused mainly on the role scientists play in society. One of the most difficult topics involved questioning whether scientists were the ideal choice to attempt to decode the message in His Master's Voice. Disregarding the fact that the message was a lengthy pattern of neutrino emissions that could only be detected by sensitive scientific apparatus and could only be "read" by scientists (although really it made no sense to them), how would other specialists have fared in examining the signal?

Hogarth classifies mathematics as the most pure study, saying it is derived directly from nature. After that, he gives credit to natural sciences like physics and biology, followed by sciences that study human constructions like psychology and anthropology. The "elves" as they are called, are regarded as pseudo-scientists and are given very little credit for their ideas. Still more detested by Hogarth are the politicians involved in the HMV project. The liaison, Nye, is treated as a figure of scorn by most, and Hogarth holds him in open contempt. One of Baloyne's most valuable characteristics is the fact that he is able to mediate between the scientific and political communities.

Even when Senator McMahon shows up and Hogarth is able to have a productive conversation with him about the nature of the project, he reveals that the government has been running His Master's Ghost. One of the reasons for Hogarth's dislike of politicians, as we see, is the lack of transparency they offer. While Hogarth sees that science enlightens and produces, he only sees that government hides important advances, hording them to its own advantage.

What Hogarth seems to be implying, is that government is naturally impaired by the necessary Schmittian friend-enemy dichotomy. Scientists, we would hope, are free from this restraint, to work for the "good of humanity." Of course, as we read, it becomes obvious that scientists are not working to enlighten mankind. Hogarth and a few of his colleagues may be, but many of the scientists are seeking to make a name for themselves in this project. Even McHill, when he sees that the TX-bomb is impossible, shows a look of disappointment. Far from having a desire for empirical knowledge, McHill seems to desire the reward following the creation of the most powerful weapon yet known. As a scientist, he fails to look beyond to the consequences of his achievement.