On science, politics and simulations

摘要

We live in politically stoked times. From questionable elections to political violence to social problems such as unemployment, there is little chance for anybody not to be concerned about some political topic. However, often, the "solutions" to these problems seem to make matters worse. From a scientist or an engineer's point of view, we may run the risk of being laughed at by some experts and ignored by others. Their patience and forgiveness is greatly appreciated. A scientific approach to the problem would mean patiently trying to understand the workings of society, always keeping an open mind for new ideas and theories. This way we constantly improve our models of how our societies work and, consequently, of how they should be governed to aid in the decision-making process.