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From: cjr@unirot.UUCP (Charles Riordan)
Newsgroups: net.philosophy,net.sci
Subject: Re: Contempt prior to Investigation
Message-ID: <369@unirot.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 14-Mar-86 12:14:48 EST
Article-I.D.: unirot.369
Posted: Fri Mar 14 12:14:48 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 15-Mar-86 21:32:13 EST
References: <435@ccivax.UUCP> <13400007@uiucdcsp> <12239@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU> <284@ll-xn.ARPA>
Organization: Public Access Un*x, The Soup Kitchen
Lines: 37
Xref: watmath net.philosophy:4459 net.sci:593
Summary: Not wanting to believe

In article <284@ll-xn.ARPA>, olsen@ll-xn.ARPA (Jim Olsen) writes:
> In article <358@unirot.UUCP>, cjr@unirot.UUCP (Charles Riordan) writes:
> > ...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.

Hey, man, I'm not about to beat you over the head with anything. I'm a
pacifist. But your so damned right that this approach serves SCIENCE!
It doesn't serve knowledge and truth. Just because we can't produce
"independently verifable" results based on our cosmic experiences, just
because there's no "proof" that would satisfy a Western dogmatic scientist,
you just dicount what we say without acknowledgeing it at all. Is that a
reasonable thing to do? I mean, the evidence is all around you. I'll bet
you don't believe in God either. Like it says in the Bible, "Thou fool!!!"

What is it that you scientists want? Objectivity? What's wrong with
subjectivity? Can't you just accept what I say as true? Don't you want me
to accept what you say as true? Do you believe anybody when they say things
to you? Or do you treat everything anyone says to you like those very very
rare exceptions who do lie? (Politicians, salesman, heathen religous fanatics,
huxters, con men, doctors, philosophers, criminals, people covering up for
themselves or others, ect.) You've got to learn to have faith in the truth of
what people are saying. It's the only truth we really have, unless you're
willing to sit around waiting for "independent verifability" and objectivity
before accepting some of the obvious truths of this world. I don't think
that's worth it, man. Just accept what people tell you, and you'll find you've
grown into a better more rewarding person.

Peace,
	CJ