Re: We're Not In Kansas Any More (was RE: Does taking a survey on X lead to X behavior?

[Christopher D. Green]

Marie Helweg-Larsen wrote: Here is one opinion about what us scientists should and should not do (from this week's TIME magazine). http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1126751,00.html The author of this article writes: "As a theological idea, intelligent design is exciting. Listen: If nature is the way it is because God wants it to be that way, then, by looking at nature, one can learn what it is that God wants! The microscope and the telescope are no longer merely scientific instruments; they are windows into the mind of God." Golly gosh! We're back to early 19th-century "natural theoology," are we? Well, everyone break out your (no doubt dusty) copies of the Bridgewater Treatises. What could possibly be "exciting" about recapitulating tired old research programs from centuries past?  The thing that really annoys me about historically ignorant people is that they so often get swept away by ideas that have long since had their day, failed, and were then forgotten. Could we at least have a *new* bad idea. :-( -- Christopher D. Green Department of Psychology York University Toronto, Ontario, Canada M3J 1P3 e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] phone: 416-736-5115 ext. 66164 fax: 416-736-5814 http://www.yorku.ca/christo/ ============================ . --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: archive@jab.org To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]