Comments on: it takes the human voice http://www.dansanders.net/2010/01/04/it-takes-the-human-voice/ building a bias for action Mon, 08 Aug 2011 13:57:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: dan http://www.dansanders.net/2010/01/04/it-takes-the-human-voice/comment-page-1/#comment-22239 dan Thu, 07 Jan 2010 20:13:05 +0000 http://www.dansanders.net/?p=297#comment-22239 "It seems the chief end of science is to prove itself wrong." Absolutely, G. It is the *explicit* end of science to offer up solutions that are workable, or that can be falsified. If I give you a thesis that I can neither demonstrate, nor can you prove it wrong (given sufficient education and dedication on both our parts), it isn't science. And, to both celebrate Newtonmas (belatedly) and to quote one of the Greats: "if I have seen further than others, it is because I stood on the shoulders of giants." Science is about progress, not picking which ideas you like - and then proving it. And alas, thanks for offering up one of my poetic faves. Ice has indeed "sufficed" many times - the impact event that got rid of our distant dinosaur cousins didn't do so by burning them up. It did it by freezing them (to a degree) out. And great evidence that <i>homo sapiens</i> won out over our genus-brethren because of an ice age about 75K years ago. Welcome, my good sir, and I look forward to many spirited discussions. “It seems the chief end of science is to prove itself wrong.” Absolutely, G. It is the *explicit* end of science to offer up solutions that are workable, or that can be falsified. If I give you a thesis that I can neither demonstrate, nor can you prove it wrong (given sufficient education and dedication on both our parts), it isn’t science. And, to both celebrate Newtonmas (belatedly) and to quote one of the Greats: “if I have seen further than others, it is because I stood on the shoulders of giants.” Science is about progress, not picking which ideas you like – and then proving it.

And alas, thanks for offering up one of my poetic faves. Ice has indeed “sufficed” many times – the impact event that got rid of our distant dinosaur cousins didn’t do so by burning them up. It did it by freezing them (to a degree) out. And great evidence that homo sapiens won out over our genus-brethren because of an ice age about 75K years ago.

Welcome, my good sir, and I look forward to many spirited discussions.

]]> By: Gordon Bryan http://www.dansanders.net/2010/01/04/it-takes-the-human-voice/comment-page-1/#comment-22235 Gordon Bryan Tue, 05 Jan 2010 21:31:59 +0000 http://www.dansanders.net/?p=297#comment-22235 Phi, Fie, Foe, Phumb, Look Out Science, Herez I Come Who can argue against the importance of science and the paucity of its study in America today? But whose science do we choose? The science of Ptolemy or the science of Copernicus? The science of former Washington governor Dixie Lee Ray or the science of former Vice President Albert Gore, Jr.? The science of Mentos in a coke bottle or the science of nuclear fission? It seems the chief end of science is to prove itself wrong. And then we consider "Does the “longer growing season” argument belie an implicit racism? One wonders." Not unless you are referring to the HUMAN race, in which case, spot on! Remember that Australians are people, too. It may be my bias as a product of the liberal arts (too lazy to study), but I believe a poet summed up the global warming debate quite well before it began. Behold Robert Frost: FIRE AND ICE Some say the world will end in fire, Some say in ice. From what I've tasted of desire I hold with those who favor fire. But if it had to perish twice, I think I know enough of hate To say that for destruction ice Is also great And would suffice. Phi, Fie, Foe, Phumb, Look Out Science, Herez I Come

Who can argue against the importance of science and the paucity of its study in America today?

But whose science do we choose? The science of Ptolemy or the science of Copernicus? The science of former Washington governor Dixie Lee Ray or the science of former Vice President Albert Gore, Jr.? The science of Mentos in a coke bottle or the science of nuclear fission? It seems the chief end of science is to prove itself wrong.

And then we consider “Does the “longer growing season” argument belie an implicit racism? One wonders.” Not unless you are referring to the HUMAN race, in which case, spot on! Remember that Australians are people, too.

It may be my bias as a product of the liberal arts (too lazy to study), but I believe a poet summed up the global warming debate quite well before it began. Behold Robert Frost:

FIRE AND ICE

Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I’ve tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.

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