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Re: Dogmatism, 'authority questioning,' and science. (fwd)
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Sat, 18 Jul 1998 23:23:14 -0700 (PDT)
From: Michael Nolley <mhnolley-at-willamette.edu>
To: Tesla List <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
Cc: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
Subject: Re: Dogmatism, 'authority questioning,' and science. (fwd)
On Sat, 18 Jul 1998, Tesla List wrote:
>
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> Date: Sat, 18 Jul 1998 17:34:17 -0500 (CDT)
> From: Larry Bud Melman <gasman-at-althea.a-line-dot-net>
> To: Tesla List <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
> Subject: Dogmatism, 'authority questioning,' and science.
>
> Malcolm, all:
>
> I reiterate what Bart said, only even more vigorously. I read Michael's
> original post with intense amusement, as I had been thinking something along
> those lines for a bit now, only didn't bother to post about it.
>
> As I've said before, I'm no physicist or electronics wizard - but I
> am a scientist by trade and training. Science has dogmas which, sometimes, are
> useful for a time until the 'surrounding knowlege base' makes it clear that
> the dogmas may be flawed. However, once they're accepted as useful, sometimes
> it's not exactly *clear* how long, or how tenaciously, they should be held
> on to.
>
> In order for science to advance in a way that is positive and true,
> it takes both kinds of us: those who tend toward dogmatism and those who
> have a low threshold to 'question authority,' if you will, or to espouse the
> potential for modifying existing convention and traditional wisdom.
>
> Science could not be, without both kinds of scientist. The existence
> of both kinds necessitates the careful verbalization and rationalization of
> each viewpoint - forcing each other to listen carefully to each other's
> reasoning, and defend their own viewpoint if they think they should, or
> even consider that the other is right... :-)
>
> I am certain that Michael meant no offense to either Malcolm or
> John, or anyone else. As to myself, I'm very glad to have everyone's
> posts here. Although I really only understand probably about half of what
> I read here, I just read, and post sometimes, and lurk a lot, and learn very,
> very much. And, the price is right.
>
> Safe coiling and happy science to all.
>
> Clay Wilson>
I fully agree. Just wanted to see if everyone was awake.