Thanks neverdem. Here's a group of "scientists" that operate their hate squad at SMU:
|
Posted on 12/12/2012 6:07:02 PM PST by neverdem
When I decided on a scientific career, one of the things that appealed to me about science was the modesty of its practitioners. The typical scientist seemed to be a person who knew one small corner of the natural world and knew it very well, better than most other human beings living and better even than most who had ever lived. But outside of their circumscribed areas of expertise, scientists would hesitate to express an authoritative opinion. This attitude was attractive precisely because it stood in sharp contrast to the arrogance of the philosophers of the positivist tradition, who claimed for science and its practitioners a broad authority with which many practicing scientists themselves were uncomfortable.
The temptation to overreach, however, seems increasingly indulged today in discussions about science. Both in the work of professional philosophers and in popular writings by natural scientists, it is frequently claimed that natural science does or soon will constitute the entire domain of truth. And this attitude is becoming more widespread among scientists themselves. All too many of my contemporaries in science have accepted without question the hype that suggests that an advanced degree in some area of natural science confers the ability to pontificate wisely on any and all subjects.
Of course, from the very beginning of the modern scientific enterprise, there have been scientists and philosophers who have been so impressed with the ability of the natural sciences to advance knowledge that they have asserted that these sciences are the only valid way of seeking knowledge in any field. A forthright expression of this viewpoint has been made by the chemist Peter Atkins, who in his 1995 essay “Science as Truth” asserts the “universal competence” of science. This position has been called scientism — a term that was originally intended to be...
(Excerpt) Read more at thenewatlantis.com ...
If Hollywood actors and DC politicians can pontificate on any and all subjects, so why not scientists?that an advanced degree in some area of natural science confers the ability to pontificate wisely on any and all subjects
They can - but you missed the word after “pontificate” in the quoted sentence.Anyone can pontificate on any subject - but not all of us can do so wisely.
That’s why this thread needs me. ;-)
Ping.
It’s surprising the number of people who think their expertise in corporate law makes them expert in how to fix damaged homes. For some odd reason they don’t assume the opposite. Nobody ever assumes the expert plumber is thereby qualified to perform surgery.
The society which scorns excellence in plumbing as a humble activity and tolerates shoddiness in philosophy because it is an exalted activity will have neither good plumbing nor good philosophy neither its pipes nor its theories will hold water. - John W. Gardner
But not as much; now that I am here...
Advocates of scientism today claim the sole mantle of rationality, frequently equating science with reason itself.
"Philosophy is a necessity for a rational being. Philosophy is the foundation of science, the organizer of man's mind, the integrator of his knowledge, the programmer of his subconscious, the selector of his values."
"The present state of the world is not the proof of philosophy's impotence, but the proof of philosophy's power. It is philosophy that has brought us to this state - it is only philosophy that can lead us out."
"If, in the course of philosophical detection, you find yourself at times, stopped by the indignantly bewildered question: "How could anyone arrive at such nonsense?" - you will begin to understand it when you discover that evil philosophies are systems of rationalization."
Italics = article, quotes = Rand
|
Ooh, that is a good one.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
