On the “who can pursue knowledge” question, it seems to me like Said’s actually saying two very different things:
Historically a large number of people likely inclined towards pursuing scientific knowledge didn’t have access to formal credentials. But this doesn’t necessarily mean they didn’t do science!
The credentialing and career system in science impedes people from pursuing scientific knowledge.
These both seem like serious critiques of the proxy you’re using, similar to using “licensed therapist” as a proxy for “attentive sympathetic listener” or “lawyer” as a proxy for “works to resolve conflicts through systematic, formal reasoning.”
On the “who can pursue knowledge” question, it seems to me like Said’s actually saying two very different things:
Historically a large number of people likely inclined towards pursuing scientific knowledge didn’t have access to formal credentials. But this doesn’t necessarily mean they didn’t do science!
The credentialing and career system in science impedes people from pursuing scientific knowledge.
These both seem like serious critiques of the proxy you’re using, similar to using “licensed therapist” as a proxy for “attentive sympathetic listener” or “lawyer” as a proxy for “works to resolve conflicts through systematic, formal reasoning.”