Mathematicians mostly study the surprising consequences of what others create; and it's often easier to take action than know the consequences, as the latter requires perfect understanding. Poorly understood automation is the Frankenstein fear, a real danger, as each victim of Murphy's Law will rue.
It's the pure science vs. engineering chestnut, that old favourite of science fiction: the pursuit of understanding for its own sake vs. making something useful (the trope has abstract knowledge as crucial in the end). But in reality, one isn't better than the other, both are needed, and it is, as you say, a matter of personal value.
It's the pure science vs. engineering chestnut, that old favourite of science fiction: the pursuit of understanding for its own sake vs. making something useful (the trope has abstract knowledge as crucial in the end). But in reality, one isn't better than the other, both are needed, and it is, as you say, a matter of personal value.
Here's a related comment (you might like the cartoon too): http://www.reddit.com/r/pics/comments/bw3le/caveman_science_...