Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!husc6!rutgers!labrea!decwrl!nsc!pyramid!thirdi!sarge From: sarge@thirdi.UUCP (Sarge Gerbode) Newsgroups: sci.philosophy.tech Subject: Re: What is a methodology Message-ID: <110@thirdi.UUCP> Date: Mon, 24-Aug-87 19:19:19 EDT Article-I.D.: thirdi.110 Posted: Mon Aug 24 19:19:19 1987 Date-Received: Wed, 26-Aug-87 01:26:14 EDT References: <97@thirdi.UUCP> <388@hubcap.UUCP> Reply-To: sarge@thirdi.UUCP (Sarge Gerbode) Organization: Institute for Research in Metapsychology Lines: 33 Keywords: science maturity methodology Summary: I prefer "immature sciences". In article <388@hubcap.UUCP> steve@hubcap.UUCP ("Steve" Stevenson) writes: >in article <97@thirdi.UUCP>, sarge@thirdi.UUCP (Sarge Gerbode) says: >> >> I think, >> however, that you can't specify the questions, nor the methodology, in >> advance. Both evolve with the science. > >To some degree you are right. That might be the difference between a mature >and an evolving science. A science probably stagnates if it keeps (1) turned >inward and (2) asking the same tired questions (long ago answered.). By this definition of "mature", I think I prefer "immature sciences"! "Overripe" might be a better term. The only science I can think of that's fully mature, in this sense, is the science of playing tic-tac-toe. And that's not much fun anymore. >Part of my interest is pedegogical: My students beat on me saying "You never >tell us where we're going." I say,"But you were supposed to get that in >xxx course." Well, they didn't get it there: so now I have to do it. I >used to think them blase and not curious - now I think that they haven't >been primed to ask "the usual questions." Biep's list is nice in that respect >as it is a list of questions to prime the pump. Agreed, with bells on. I think what Biep is aiming at is very worthwhile. My only point is that it isn't a definition of "methodology". -- "Absolute knowledge means never having to change your mind." Sarge Gerbode Institute for Research in Metapsychology 950 Guinda St. Palo Alto, CA 94301 UUCP: pyramid!thirdi!sarge