Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!lll-winken!lll-lcc!pyramid!octopus!avsd!govett
From: govett@avsd.UUCP (David Govett)
Newsgroups: sci.misc
Subject: Re: Science IS a religion.
Message-ID: <48@avsd.UUCP>
Date: 21 Mar 88 16:18:02 GMT
References: <73600008@uiucdcsp> <32@avsd.UUCP> <357@epistemi.ed.ac.uk>
Organization: Ampex Advanced Technology Division, Redwood City, CA
Lines: 34

> In article <32@avsd.UUCP> govett@avsd.UUCP (David Govett) writes:
> >
> >The scientific method (more specifically, mathematics) is the only
> >reasonably effective technique man [=people] has developed for understanding 
> >the universe, however imperfectly. 
> >
> 
> I know what you're saying, but hang on! Have you never read a great 
> novel and come to understand the most complex
> bit of the universe - us - a bit more? Art, interpersonal relationships etc
> certainly give me a far greater understanding of life the universe and 
> everything, precisely because in many cases, they don't add up :-). (maths
> isn't any use there!)
> 

They may give a greater subjective understanding of the universe, but
objective knowledge must be verifiable.  Since all science is based
on unverifiable assumptions (i.e., axioms), however, objective knowledge
is ultimately unverifiable, too.  (Personally, I prefer arts to science
because they are more immediate to my experience, and therefore seem
more real.) 

So, we might as well carpe diem.

What is it they say about philosophers?  They kick up a lot of dust,
then complain they can't see.








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