On Tue, 21 May 2002, Paul Brandon wrote:
> At 7:13 AM -0400 5/21/02, Louis_Schmier wrote:
> >Rip, I don't think Einstein would agree. Are you telling me that
> >imagination and creativity have no place in science, that the courage to
> >go against established thinking has no place in science, that optimism
> >and faith and self-confidence have no place in science? What pessimist
> >ever made a discovery?
>
> Depends on how we define these terms.
Exactly! We can say X number of people are creative or imaginative or
courageous. But, what do we mean. Perspective is based on perception,
and perception is based on perspective. We have to get down to first
principles or definitions. And there is the subjective and qualifying
rub. There is no detachment and objectivity. It all depends subjectively
of "depends on" and "if we..." and "if we...can agree on..." And if we
can't or don't? The difficulty is that you, editorially, want to create
something being done on the outside--something people do and a group of
behaviors--countable, albeit scientific, so that you can count it.
Moreover, even if you can count it, what does the count mean? And, once
again, enter subjectivity of interpretation and cultural coloration. A
good example would be how over the ages, since the 19th century, our
perception, understanding, description of Neanderthal man has undergone
change reflecting the inability of scientists to be divorced from their
cultural perceptions, pre-conceptions, asumptions, and assertions.
Make it a good day.
--Louis--
Louis Schmier www.therandomthoughts.com
Department of History www.halcyon.com/arborhts/louis.html
Valdosta State University
Valdosta, GA 31698 /~\ /\ /\
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