Replies

Personally, I think everyone should have to pass p-chem to get a bachelors degree.

That's not necessary at all. "Debunking" something as silly as this should not require specific knowledge of the field involved (although of course that's always nice.) And it shouldn't require a college degree. People should be taught the basics of scientific methodology before graduating high school.

It's entirely possible that someone might invent a combination universal solvent and perpetual motion device someday. But if that happens it won't be "proved" by a demonstration on TV; it will be submitted as a testable theory and the phenomenon will be duplicated by people all over the world.

I omitted the "peer review" because my point was that I want to be one of the peers to review it.

Anyone who wants to can review a paper or try to replicate results. They only call it a "peer review" to limit the cacophony of 10,000 voices all chiming in at the same time.

That's something a lot of people don't understand. Science is fundamentally different from any other endeavor. If someone like God, the homos who appoint themselves the "Academy," the plastic-haired freak on the Nightly News, or any other Ultimate Authority says that a work of art is good, then it is good -- end of story. And the millions of idiots who pay hard-earned money to see something else are all "wrong."

That's how liberal arts work. But science is utterly different. If some bozo off the street nobody's ever heard of shows that Einstein's pet theory is a load of crap, then EVERYONE with an understanding of the subject matter will be able to see that he is right and Einstein is wrong. And it could not possibly matter less how gloriously "authoritative" the proponents happen to deem themselves.

Whoah--take it easy on your keyboard! I was only making brief comments partially in jest, and you are lecturing me on the details. Being a professional chemist and computer programmer who is well versed in research & development and peer review and publication, I fully realize and understand all that you are saying.

Of course, passing p-chem is not necessary. Notice that I put a smiley face ":)" after my p-chem comment. There were some engineers who replied and seemed to notice it.

...and yes, I have read C.P. Snow's "The Two Cultures."

I'm not trying to start a flame war here, mainly because I think we are saying the same thing. You are just doing it more prosaically and without my hyperbole.