Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!mcsun!ukc!warwick!nott-cs!ucl-cs!news
From: G.Joly@cs.ucl.ac.uk
Newsgroups: comp.ai.philosophy
Subject: Re: Emergent Properties
Message-ID: <1265@ucl-cs.uucp>
Date: 5 Nov 90 19:01:25 GMT
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In <1990Oct31.102704.18335@cscs.UUCP>, csmith@cscs.UUCP (Craig E. Smith) writes

> In the general sense of the word, a "science" is simply any subject
> which can be systematically studied in a logical manner, and the
> related body of knowledge generated by that study. In most cases, the
> decision of whether or not to call a particular study a science is
> primarily a political consideration, and is largely based on whether
> one accepts that the field can be systematically, and logically
> investigated.

In "The Construction of Reality", Arbib and Hesse argue that Science
is a body of facts. They also mention Popper (and others) and his idea
of a "falsifiable" theory being Science. However, they also make it
clear that there are a large number of theories which "fit the bill",
that is to say are not at variance with previous theories, yet could
be superseded in a subsequent paradigm. They they go on to discuss
Marx (and others) who they seem to like, because I suppose they are
better "scientists" (don't quote me on that).

But what of Science? "Amateur psychology is folk psychology!" The
notion that Science goes along without being "political" is false. The
low funding of basic research is the UK (as compared with France and
Germany) is a political position. But more than that is the
observation that all the questions we ask (as for example
psychologists, social scientists, AI researchers) are influenced by
the fact that we are people ourselves (both observers and subjects).
As an example, a recent piece of research showed a positive
correlation between myopia and high IQ. So the folklore image of a
short-sighted boffin was reinforced by "Science".  This rubberstamping
did not address the questions of what is IQ, is IQ inherited through
the genes and thereby linked to a predisposition to both eyeseight and
intelligence and which was the cause & which the effect.

Gordon Joly                                           +44 71 387 7050 ext 3716
InterNet: G.Joly@cs.ucl.ac.uk       UUCP: ...!{uunet.uu.net,ukc}!ucl-cs!G.Joly
Computer Science, University College London, Gower Street, LONDON WC1E 6BT, UK

Ref:   The construction of reality / Michael A. Arbib and Mary B. Hesse.
       Cambridge : Cambridge University Press, 1986. - xii,286p. - (Gifford
       lectures ; 1983) Includes index. - 0-521-32689-3