Where’s British pride in our contribution to science and the Enlightenment?

You report that the British Social Attitudes survey asked the public to indicate their degree of pride in the UK’s achievements in the arts and literature, sport, history, democracy, political influence and economic achievements (‘Somewhat more critical’: pride in Britain’s history falls sharply in survey, 3 September). It is appalling, but unsurprising, that science was not in this list.

The UK has an astounding record of scientific excellence – by many measures the best in the world. It excels in both the fundamental science that wins Nobel prizes and in the practical use of it for the benefit of mankind. And often with investment that is far below the international competition.

The oblivion about all this is evidence of how ludicrously skewed the views are of the UK elite – the media, civil service and government. Unsurprising, as they are stuffed with PPE, classics, business and law graduates recruiting people like themselves to run things like newspapers, TV channels, Post Office accounting software and the provision of clean water.
Andrew King
Leicester

• Whether people are proud of our history or wary of it, one glaring omission from our history and national life is our part in the European secular Enlightenment of the 18th century, where London and Edinburgh (particularly the latter) were as influential as Paris.

The advances in philosophy, economics, science and town planning started the procedure of putting religious dogma on the back burner and rationality, freedom and humanistic laws to the front. We live with these values so deep in our laws and civic life today that we are in danger of taking them for granted. Does the Enlightenment even get taught in our schools?
David Redshaw
Saltdean, East Sussex

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