Freedom of Science

An organism such as the US Congress is a “system” no different than so-called “physical systems” investigated by physicists. There is an apparent difference if you look at individual components. Physics apparently investigates systems that cannot consciously change the system within the system. But the Congress too cannot change its own state.

Take a snapshot of the Congress today. Take a snapshot of the state of Congress in 20 years. There will be no change.

So why are physicists so excited that a physicist is entering the Congress? The physicist congressman will have no effect on Congress or on physics. He may be able to allocate more money for Fermi Lab? Maybe. Maybe not.

Physics too is an organism like the Congress. Both congressmen and physicists are lawmakers. But since physics does not have a constant meeting place it is not perceived as an organism.

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