Interesting discussion by authoritative and expert CCP4BB contributors. Francis Bacon is often cited as one of the originators of enlightenment science. An recent (1964!) update on his methods can be found in http://pages.cs.wisc.edu/~markhill/science64_strong_inference.pdf. I think this still contains relevant material for anyone teaching science (including crystallography).
Some interpretations of quantum mechanics (e.g. the influence of the observer on the observation) have provided encouragement for a postmodern philosophy of science. Until an agreed interpretation of quantum phenomena is obtained I think this will still be an issue. I am not sure what a post modern philosopher would make of the recent proposal (from two authoritative sources) that the time travelling Higgs Boson is sabotaging the LHC (it also apparently stopped the US Congress from funding the Superconducting Supercollider). Now I wish we could use this sort of excuse for why our synchrotrons have problems or why they are not funded. Colin -----Original Message----- From: CCP4 bulletin board [mailto:ccp...@jiscmail.ac.uk] On Behalf Of David J. Schuller Sent: 20 October 2009 13:44 To: CCP4BB@JISCMAIL.AC.UK Subject: Re: [ccp4bb] crystallography teaching advice: f(S) ? On Tue, 2009-10-20 at 11:45 +0100, Phil Evans wrote: > On 20 Oct 2009, at 10:53, Kevin Cowtan wrote: > > > I thought that the point of Enlightenment science was a rejection of > (Aristotelian) authority, basing science of empirical observations. If > properly conducted, Science is inherently not based on authority but > on evidence... Indeed. The word expertise is more appropriate in science than authority. - ======================================================================= You can't possibly be a scientist if you mind people thinking that you're a fool. - Wonko the Sane ======================================================================= David J. Schuller modern man in a post-modern world MacCHESS, Cornell University schul...@cornell.edu -- This e-mail and any attachments may contain confidential, copyright and or privileged material, and are for the use of the intended addressee only. If you are not the intended addressee or an authorised recipient of the addressee please notify us of receipt by returning the e-mail and do not use, copy, retain, distribute or disclose the information in or attached to the e-mail. Any opinions expressed within this e-mail are those of the individual and not necessarily of Diamond Light Source Ltd. Diamond Light Source Ltd. cannot guarantee that this e-mail or any attachments are free from viruses and we cannot accept liability for any damage which you may sustain as a result of software viruses which may be transmitted in or with the message. Diamond Light Source Limited (company no. 4375679). Registered in England and Wales with its registered office at Diamond House, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire, OX11 0DE, United Kingdom
