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From: olsen@ll-xn.ARPA (Jim Olsen)
Newsgroups: net.philosophy,net.sci
Subject: Re: Contempt prior to Investigation
Message-ID: <284@ll-xn.ARPA>
Date: Wed, 12-Mar-86 22:59:44 EST
Article-I.D.: ll-xn.284
Posted: Wed Mar 12 22:59:44 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 15-Mar-86 01:39:14 EST
References: <435@ccivax.UUCP> <13400007@uiucdcsp> <12239@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU> <358@unirot.UUCP>
Organization: MIT Lincoln Laboratory, Lexington, MA
Lines: 15
Xref: watmath net.philosophy:4438 net.sci:584

In article <358@unirot.UUCP>, cjr@unirot.UUCP (Charles Riordan) writes:

> [Discusses scientists' rejection of claims of the paranormal.]
> ...Look, it's mighty clear to me you just don't want to believe...

You're absolutely right: I don't want to believe.  I won't believe until
you beat me over the head with repeatable experiments.  All revolutionary
scientific ideas are initially subject to 'contempt prior to investigation'.

This approach has served science well for centuries.  If you want
scientists to accept your ideas, you must steel yourself to withstand
their contempt, and doggedly pursue your researches until you produce
repeatable results.  This is the lot of the scientific pioneer.
-- 
Jim Olsen   ARPA:olsen@ll-xn   UUCP:{decvax,lll-crg,seismo}!ll-xn!olsen