In browsing all the early posts about this question, we see a lot of fake santas...and real Scrooges....I mean pretend and wanna-be scientists, and cynics that abound in the field. Many have the view (mythological in my opinion) that for santa to be real...I mean for Psych science to exist, there must be some kind of absolute Truth or fundamentally Real answers provided, and they become easily disillusioned when knowledge provided is so tentative, probabilistic, and conditional. Some have always, and with cynicism, looked at the subject matter of the field itself and felt there can be no way to make that resemble our idea of the real santa...ah, I mean science. It hardly seems that such a snark, er, I mean creature could reside there eh? Others might point out that it is not the field or subject matter itself that determines whether santa exists or a field is scientific but rather the kind of work and investigative advance that have been achieved. Yes, no one said this would be easy and some work areas remain poorly tilled with others lie quite fallow. Still others hold that santa is an ideal and an idea that lives in us as we toil the field. They hold it is our adherence to santa's values/scientific ideals and methodological canons that really constitute the meaning we strive for in defining ourselves. In hauling out or castigating our favorite (mis)conceptions of santa we should remember that much good work needs to be done and people need to believe....and by their fruits shall you know... who might be real purveyers of santa's spirit. Of course some have pointed out that if an official Educational Institution backed by U.S. Or Canadian governments receive and officially recognize our santa er, field, as among those deserving of santa credit then surely we must be the real thing!!? Surely we can still believe, hope, and recognize the good work that's been done and that still remains. The world sorely needs a better self-understanding.....and while the hope of a science of ourselves can be threatening to dogma everywhere, it remains a bright star portending better things for many of us....a candle in the darkness as Sagan noted?
Ok, I should never respond to Tips posts near Xmas, especially without my coffee on these cold Michigan mornings.....I will go back to my lurking and dancing sugarplums smiles at this thread. Gary Saginaw Valley State University GPeterson Gary's iPad --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: arch...@jab.org. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df5d5&n=T&l=tips&o=6985 or send a blank email to leave-6985-13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df...@fsulist.frostburg.edu
