virus: Faith in knowledge

Reed Konsler (konsler@ascat.harvard.edu)
Tue, 9 Feb 1999 11:29:26 -0500

>One difference has just occurred to me - A Bible reader wants to believe. A
>scientific reader has no desire to believe either way - just sides with the
>side with the best evidence. No Bible reader can read the Bible then say
>"Based on objective evidence the Bible is true"
>
>Bill Roh

Bah.
A scientist has faith that the universe is knowable in some meaningful sense. Someone who doesn't care is a nihlist...perhaps even a suicide. Scientists are not apathetic about knowledge, just the opposite.

No scientist can say "based upon the evidence my theory is true". I've watched scientists get their head handed them by collegues in the literature and in conference for making such claims. It's hubris. It happens. It gets corrected, and rapidly. If only everyone had the opportunity to experience such feedback.

Reed


  Reed Konsler                        konsler@ascat.harvard.edu
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