Sent: Tuesday, 18 May 1999 7:45
Subject: [recoznet2] Wilson Tuckey and
THE SUB-MYTH OF SCIENCE
In the light of Mr Wilson Tuckey (Minister for Chainsaws and Woodchips),
and his conservative State counterparts (various ministers for landscape
desertification) alleging "science" as the basis for the continued rape of my
grandchildren's and nation's natural inheritance; from S. J. O'Malley, I offer
the following on "science" as a prop of the unscientific and
otherwise ignorant....
Jim,
All of this does not serve to say that scientific thought is of no
use. I think that the areas of science, and the examples, visited by O'Malley
are rather esoteric. Also, the secret of understanding any science is to know
its limits; within what limits is a proposition true. As an example Newton's
theories of gravity were true within limited contexts. These contexts were
expanded by Einsteinian theories, theories that are still, piece by piece,
being vindicated. Using the scientific method sunscreens were discovered,
penicillan, tranistors, and etc. Scientific thought these days, as O'Malley's
examples show, is moving more and more into levels of probability rather than
black and white certainty. The Geenhouse effect may not be a scientific
certainty, a situation 'siezed on' by vested interests especially polititians,
but the probability of it occurring is increasing and set by some as high as
95%. The same may be said of the forests: maybe some of the impacts
cannot be predicted with minute precision, but the chances of them occurring
is pretty high.
Since Heisenberg, the scientific method has changed. Yes/no certainty
is no longer the only end of science. Even the great Einstien in
exasperation was heard to say 'God does not play dice' when confronted
with the probabilities of Quantum theory, and he thereafter spent the rest of
his life trying to regain certainty by disproving the theory. He did not
succeed.
The scientific method is a very valuable form of logic (thinking) but it
is not the only one. Works of art are concieved differently as is
compassion, love and sensibility. Strangely for me as an Australian of
European descent (I suspect?) I witnessed my Aboriginal friends in the
Top End using what I would call scientific method in their hunting, gathering
and etc. and they did not even have a word for 'Science'...
___________________________________________
Ian J.
Henderson Tel: (08)94183972
24
Harfleur Place Fax
(08)94183972
Hamilton
Hill
E-mail
[EMAIL PROTECTED]Western
Australia, 6163
Freedom is having nothing left to fear.
_____________________________________________
