SPIRITED SEARCHING FOR SCIENCE
In the opening of ‘Destiny’ (1997), the movie, a student of Averroes was burned by the Church. But before he was burned he had thrown the manuscripts of knowledge that he got from the Philosopher to his son in the midst of the crowd. The child then ran away, chased, but not overtaken. Feeling insecure, the young man then went to Italy and taught the Philosopher’s knowledge there. The following century, Italy celebrated a revival, the Renaissance.
The story of the seeker of knowledge and his child shows that when love of knowledge is performed, various attempts are made to meet, greet, caress, and drink of knowledge. Even if he learned from the adherents of other religions, being chased, and burned. Then, what really makes people love science so much? Why should humans seek and love of knowledge?
The scientific spirit is a way of thinking, attitude, and acting that shows loyalty, care and a high appreciation of science. This scientific spirit has been present in humans’ history, and gave it as a characteristic of their life.
The scientific spirit told in the history mostly is indeed collective or state policies. Thus it is political in nature, namely educational and industrial policies related to education (research and development). This requires the sacrifice of all parties. Politicians and governments must truly push for the advancement of science and knowledge. In turn, the community will support if the advancement of existing science and technology is for their benefit.
But our story here is how to love that knowledge can become our character. There have been many stories about the greatness of knowledge and the glory of people who seek knowledge. But why are so many of us negligent about this? Is the end of study (such as doctorate) already getting knowledge? No. We still have to research, to look for new formulas of knowledge. After searching, we must research to find newness of knowledge. The results of the research must then be announced to the public, so that they can be searched again in the stock of knowledge.
Formal education, in various levels, seems not enough to make us noble. The university seems to have expanded its function beyond just following the existing curriculum. There must be extra-curricular activities that encourage students to love science and lecturers in research. There must be some collaboration between the educational institutions (such as universities) with the institutions of science and industry to demonstrate that the science they learned is practical.
The media, print, electronic, and digital are supposed to help the public to love science more. Look at international media which has so many media offering knowledge. Even for the National Geographic, for instance, there are already many channels: there are NatGeo Wild, NatGeo People, and NatGeo Adventure. We are also stunned by their greatness in the field of research. Even the world is a witness to the greatness of their research. The natural and cultural parts of our country, our cities, even our developmental excesses have become their research materials.
As a result, cultivating the spirit of science is our duty. Everyone must wake up from cultural and scientific lag to the brilliance of science. Loving knowledge is our duty. Therefore, we must risk ourselves a lot for the triumph of science.
Thus, love is sacrifice. And the love of science means to sacrifice for science. Here the self is gone, dissolved in the sea of knowledge. Like the seeker of knowledge in the movie about Averroes winning the Cannes Award above, who is willing to “risk” himself to gain knowledge. It is clear that science is longer than humans. At the end of the movie, Chahine, the director, quoted Averroes’s words, “Ideas have wings, no one can stop their flight.”
