RE: virus: Logic

Tim Rhodes (proftim@speakeasy.org)
Wed, 29 Oct 1997 10:43:17 -0800 (PST)


On Fri, 24 Oct 1997, Ken Kittlitz wrote:

> Oh-oh, I think we're more or less in agreement ;->
>
> I too think that something like astrology or tarot reading can have its
> uses (e.g., self-analysis), but think that using it as such will generally
> be more successful if you approach it in that spirit; e.g., rather than
> naively believing my horoscope, I approach it with the attitude of "What
> will this piece of advice tell me about my feelings regarding the upcoming
> business trip?". In other words, I get more mileage out of astrology by
> realizing that its best use is *not* as a predictor of future events. Maybe
> this was your point all along...

In large part. I think the outright dismissal of these things by some of
the more scientificly inclined tends to overlook this possibility. That
is why I often rail so hard in the other direction.

Science studies the natural world. Those who would dismiss astrology,
Shamanism, faith, streaking, etc as not worthy of scientific study do a
disservice to science. Or they themselves believe, on some level, that
these subjects are outside of the natural world.

-Prof. Tim