HOW USEFUL IS USELESS KNOWLEDGE?

Philosophical and historical considerations on the social importance of epistemic activities

Abstract

This essay reflects on the usefulness of knowledge. In the academic milieu it is taken for granted that intellectual culture is valuable, but to the laymen it is not obvious that it is the case. They are led to believe that universities and research institutes are useless and, therefore, should not receive support from the state. Intellectual activities have no immediate economic or social return, this seems to lead to the conclusion that investing on them is superfluous when compared to more socially important domains, such as Healthcare, public security and basic education. The conception of usefulness behind this kind of reasoning is examined, in order to show that scientific knowledge is necessary to the possession and maintenance of goods considered to be useful. The paper The Usefulness of Useless Knowledge, by Abraham Flexner, is used to substantiate the defense of the practical and social value of epistemic activities. Mario Bunge’s philosophy of science is used to make clear some aspects of the science-technology-society relation about which Flexner does not elaborate on.