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Leave science to scientists

(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-12-08 13:55

People are casting doubts over the workability of the seismograph invented by Zhang Heng in Eastern Han (AD25-220), which represents the wisdom of ancient China. It is not for common people, but experts, to decide whether the seismograph is scientific, says an article in People's Daily. Excerpts:

Scientists should answer whether the seismograph is scientific or not should. It is not the job of laymen or the media to judge it.

The media should not try to find faults with the seismograph and its description in textbooks, because it could lead people astray and make them believe in non-scientific arguments.

This is not the first time that such doubts have been raised. In the recent past, people have accused textbooks, especially those on history, of not giving correct information.

Many people have said that some textbooks contain "errors" because their publication has been monopolized.

But they have forgotten that the monopoly in textbook publication was broken in 2001. Publications have undergone reform and textbooks have been modified in many places in keeping pace with the times.

It is, however, very important to maintain stability in textbooks. Besides, a textbook has always had its limitations.

Some of the criticisms smell of ulterior motives. Such biased criticisms can make people doubt almost everything in history textbooks, crush their spirit and question ethics.