Why We are so Afraid of Nuclear

Uranium (Nuclear Minerals) / Nuclear Power - Economics, Design, & Industry

Date posted: 08/12/14

Dr. Conca observes that there is little doubt that the words nuclear and radiation engender fear and anxiety in many humans. What is less certain is why. Although we tend to interpret reality through the lens of our present knowledge and awareness, the roots of common societal sentiments are not as obvious as images of mushroom clouds. They are the result of how humans interpret and project fundamental symbols of good and evil, how they incorporate new ideas and new capabilities into their existing lore. Understanding this fear requires understanding how knowledge arises and is passed between generations in the complex system of a society of aware beings, an understanding that is in its infancy and that uses the concept of a meme. A meme can be considered the sentient version of the biological gene.