Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site spar.UUCP
Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!decwrl!spar!ellis
From: ellis@spar.UUCP (Michael Ellis)
Newsgroups: net.philosophy
Subject: Re: RE:  Weird Science (response)
Message-ID: <573@spar.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 31-Dec-69 18:59:59 EDT
Article-I.D.: spar.573
Posted: Wed Dec 31 18:59:59 1969
Date-Received: Wed, 9-Oct-85 04:26:31 EDT
References: <45200019@hpfcms.UUCP> <1724@pyuxd.UUCP> <460@ecsvax.UUCP> <1753@pyuxd.UUCP> <470@ecsvax.UUCP> <1774@pyuxd.UUCP> <757@psivax.UUCP>
Reply-To: ellis@spar.UUCP (Michael Ellis)
Organization: Schlumberger Palo Alto Research, CA
Lines: 36

>>>.. outrageous things in the name of science UNLESS they make it a
>>> point to admit and recognize that any work they do is colored by
>>> their subjectivity.
>>Then that's not science.  So what are you arguing about?

>	Hmm, then there is no such thing as science. I heve never yet
>met a scientist, no matter how great, who did *not* bring personnal
>preconceptions and prjudices into the lab. I do it, so do all the
>scientist I met, and learned to respect, at school. That is why I
>think claiming total objectivity for science is a sham. It attempts to
>reach that goal, but human responses prevent its ever being achieved.
> -- Sarima (Stanley Friesen)

    Popper attempted to separate the subjectivity of science's 
    practitioners by cleaving the universe into three parts:	
    
    	the physical universe
	subjective consciousness
	objective knowledge, evolving thru generations 

    No doubt, empirical knowledge at any point is flawed, but since it is a
    body of literature in flux, subject to the test of experience and
    rational analysis, it evolves. Subjective consciousness fits into the
    theory as the vehicle whereby objective knowledge is created, abstracted
    and improved, thru obsevation of the physical universe.

    Science is clearly an objectively existing (and potentially self
    improving) entity when viewed this way.  Though hardly Popper's
    intention, similar arguments justify religion, astrology, and
    organized crime as well.
    
    Evolution shows us that life forms can become stagnant, counter
    productive, and eventually extinct. Consequently, science cannot rely on
    purely evolutionary arguments to assert its superiority.

-michael