Path: utzoo!utgpu!attcan!uunet!pdn!colin From: colin@pdn.UUCP (Colin Kendall) Newsgroups: comp.cog-eng Subject: Re: programs in cognitive science Message-ID: <3939@pdn.UUCP> Date: 3 Aug 88 13:12:41 GMT References: <536@buengc.BU.EDU> <595@sdics.ucsd.EDU> Distribution: all Organization: Paradyne Corporation, Largo, Florida Lines: 49 In article <595@sdics.ucsd.EDU>, norman@sdics.ucsd.EDU (Donald A. Norman - danorman@ucsd.edu (or .bitnet)) writes: > [somebody else writes] > < <<(Sciences, > > Ever get tired of hearing this old chestnut? I do. Especially as: > 1. It isn't true. > Those who like the statement cite whatever field they think most > poorly of, ignoring the earth sciences, the space sciences, etc. Not necessarily. I like the statement, and I cite Computer Science. Not only do I not think poorly of Computer Science, I majored in it and am pursuing a career in it. But it's not science. > In > addition, their definition of science is highly idiosyncratic and > suspect. When I use the statement, I mean by science "systematized knowledge derived from observation, study, and experimentation carried on in order to determine the nature or principles of what is being studied". What's idiosyncratic or suspect about that? That is not the only meaning of science, of course, but it's the one the statement means. > The National Academy of Sciences, for example, has no > problem with fields with the word "science" (or "-ology) in their > name) Is it the official position of the NAS that Library Science and Political Science are *sciences*? If so, I'd like to see that documented. > 2. The statement simply reveals the person's ignorance of language: > the "ology" of the names of many disciplines means "science. of" No ignorance here. It's actually the "logy" of many names. And it's actually the "science, theory, or discipline of", where "theory" may be completely unscientific, as in "astrology". Would you please provide some argument for your assertion that the statement is not true, instead of attacking those who agree with it? > -- Colin Kendall Paradyne Corporation {uunet,peora}!pdn!colin Mail stop LF-207 Phone: (813) 530-8697 8550 Ulmerton Road, PO Box 2826 Largo, FL 33294-2826