Chris writes: > Allen Esterson wrote: > > >Chris cites his letter in "American Psychologist" in which he quotes > >favourably the sociologist Steve Fuller: > >http://www.yorku.ca/christo/papers/Kuhn.Driver-Linn.comment.htm > > > >Much of Fuller's writing is in the field of "science studies". Where his > >specific analysis of science as practiced leads is indicated by the fact > >that he is now appearing as a witness on behalf of those advocating the > >teaching of Intelligent Design as science in Harrisburg, > > > I was not aware that Fuller was defending intelligent design. While I > find that disturbing, it has little to do with his reassessment of Kuhn > and Popper. And (as you must know, if you read my comment) I brought up > Fuller in the context of a number of recent reassessments of Kuhn, > Popper, and logical positivists which Driver-Linn failed to discuss in > her article.
As a generality, as I've said before on this list, the views of an individual on one topic is not necessarily a pointer to his/her view on an entirely different topic. However, in the present case of Fuller the subject matter is within the same sphere in the two instances under consideration. Chris writes: "I was not aware that Fuller was defending intelligent design. While I find that disturbing, it has little to do with his reassessment of Kuhn." I agree that Fuller's reassessment of Kuhn's ideas on the philosophy of science (which have been subject to a variety or interpretations) may well have valuable aspects independent of his view of science as a social endeavour. (I have not read his book on Kuhn.) However in Chris's letter Fuller's views are cited on the Kuhn vs Popper dispute on the nature of scientific development. My view is that I would not take as a reliable guide the contentions on that particular topic of a sociologist whose notion of science is such that he believes that the Intelligent Design thesis is worthy of the description "scientific". http://www.boston.com/news/science/articles/2005/10/24/expert_testifies_on_intelligent_design/ http://www.yorku.ca/christo/papers/Kuhn.Driver-Linn.comment.htm Reference *Criticism and the Growth of Knowledge*, eds. I. Lakatos and A. Musgrave. Contributions from Kuhn, Popper, et al. Cambridge University Press, 1970. Allen Esterson Former lecturer, Science Department Southwark College, London [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.human-nature.com/esterson/index.html http://www.butterfliesandwheels.com/articleprint.php?num=10 http://www.butterfliesandwheels.com/articleprint.php?num=57 http://www.butterfliesandwheels.com/articleprint.php?num=58 http://www.srmhp.org/0202/review-01.html ---------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 27 Oct 2005 09:52:54 -0400 Author: Christopher Green <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: OOOPS! (Was Re: help with learning class) > Allen Esterson wrote: > > >Chris cites his letter in "American Psychologist" in which he quotes > >favourably the sociologist Steve Fuller: > >http://www.yorku.ca/christo/papers/Kuhn.Driver-Linn.comment.htm > > > >Much of Fuller's writing is in the field of "science studies". Where his > >specific analysis of science as practiced leads is indicated by the fact > >that he is now appearing as a witness on behalf of those advocating the > >teaching of Intelligent Design as science in Harrisburg, > > > I was not aware that Fuller was defending intelligent design. While I > find that disturbing, it has little to do with his reassessment of Kuhn > and Popper. And (as you must know, if you read my comment) I brought up > Fuller in the context of a number of recent reassessments of Kuhn, > Popper, and logical positivists which Driver-Linn failed to discuss in > her article. > > Regards, > -- > Christopher D. Green > Department of Psychology > York University > Toronto, ON M3J 1P3 > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > http://www.yorku.ca/christo > Office: 416-736-5115 ext. 66164 > Fax: 416-736-5814 --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
