Hi Keith, I hear it is wet in parts of England. Would you have gone ahead and tested the first atomic bomb given the scenarios that Teller's group calculated using probability theory? Should average citizens have a say in these kinds of decisions?
Take care, Brian > Hi Brian, > > Yes, of course I worry about the unintended consequences of science. I > am > almost as greatly in fear of what genomics might produce, as I am > excited > by its possible benefits. > > In arguing that an "apparent dichotomy between science and religion, > between the physical and the spiritual, is an artifact of recent > history", > I don't think David Noble should blame scientists (as he appears to > do, > unless I misunderstand him). I think the dichotomy springs from people > who > are afraid of science -- and don't want to understand science. I don't > think great scientists have any religious or millenarianist > motivations. > They are, quite simply, people of great curiosity. > > However, from my reading, it seems to me that most of the great > scientists > are also individuals of great religious and philosophical sensitivity. > There are some exceptions to this. Darwin is an outstanding example > but in > his case he had a particularly poignant reason for cursing religion > (the > death of his gifted daughter). But, generally speaking, I think that > religious quest and scientific quest are co-products of the same > source -- > curiosity. > > I'm very greatly in favour of demystifying science. > _______________________________________________ Futurework mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://scribe.uwaterloo.ca/mailman/listinfo/futurework
