i hold organized religion to blame here. in an environment dominated by religious thinking, answers are given primacy over questions. it's no surprise that, as children grow older, their enthusiastic Why? and What for? questions get swallowed and/or stifled by the prevailing socially negative attitude towards the act of asking, of admitting that you don't know something. religion conveniently steps in to provide answers, oftentimes where science is still asking questions but has as yet not been able to provide satisfactory answers. "not yet" doesn't mean "never." religion is always happy to step in ASAP to provide the "because god" answer, which is really not a legitimate answer at all.

there is so much wrong in devaluing science; it's flat-out dangerous. just look at what it's doing to our environment, our food supply, the quality of our drinking water and breathable air, etc. to preach that there was a great flood, caused by a judgmental and omnipotent deity, that an ark was built that held all living creatures, from all parts of the world, and to audaciously include dinosaurs in the passenger list … well, it OUGHT to be beyond belief, yet it isn't. words like "logic," "reason," and "why" are looked at askance. instead, our so-called intelligentsia are saving their praise for words like "belief," "faith," and "unconditional obedience." it is, as the chorus in Hamilton: the Musical sings, "the world turned upside-down."

i am so happy to have found Philosophy, Speculative Fiction (i have a site devoted to the Golden Age of Speculative Fiction, c. 1930s-1960s, with a few outliers, comprised of 27 short stories, novelettes, and even three short-ish novels, an anthology called PRESCIENCE, at https://presciencesf.blogspot.com), P4C, and the internet! i am living in my future and am well aware of it. i am reveling in its scientifically-induced "miracles" and chafing at its vicissitudes. it is obvious to me that the only thing that can save us from our own self-induced implosion is the introduction of Philosophy as a major subject into the American public school curriculum, K-12. i "preach" this viewpoint constantly, but i know i should do more.

In my professional life as an analyst and an architect of business, asking "Why" is particularly important, and constant. I will read through your suggestions through that lense as well.

Thought provoking post.