Re: virus: The Kingdom...

psypher (overload@fastmail.ca)
Tue, 18 May 1999 21:41:41 -0400 (EDT)

> I have no idea what your definition of science is, but it ain't > possible to do science with your definition of it.

...my definition of science is the system of investigation of patterns and their relations as expressed in the following definition

Main Entry: natural science
Function: noun
Date: 14th century
: any of the sciences (as physics, chemistry, or biology) that deal with matter, energy, and their interrelations and transformations or with objectively measurable phenomena
- natural scientist noun

for which purpose, all the assumptions below:
[with the exception of #3] can be made with relative safety.

[1] wholes are composed of parts

[2] it is possible to attain an objective perspective wrt an observed
process

[3] the findings of science will eventually [or can, in principle]
encompass the whole of reality

[4] features of the world which are real [or at least significant]
can be measured and expressed quantitatively.

[5] the scientific endeavour is devoid of bias and assumptions.

...#3 is a conceit which developed from the phenomenal technical developments which arose out of the scientific system.

...I LIKE science. I have profound respect for it. I think it's often misguided and frequently misapplied, but on the whole I'm all for it. I just refuse to elevate it to a religion.

...btw. what's YOUR definition?

-psypher



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