[MD] Intention changes physical world (some questions)

[David M]

Hi Case

I think your hints about the ability to manipulate
human beings is a fair point and a big concern.
But there is a difference between science and
simply the ability of certain organisations,etc,
to exert their power. But I'm afraid I remain
skeptical about the potential of the so-called
human sciences, because there is too much of
a DQ/SQ mix to be able to model successfully,
but your optimism is an opinion you can adopt & promote.
The jury is still out.
Any other evidence you have in mind?

David M

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Case" <Case at iSpots.com>
To: <moq_discuss at moqtalk.org>
Sent: Wednesday, January 17, 2007 5:36 AM
Subject: Re: [MD] Intention changes physical world (some questions)


> [David M]
> They are not going to catch up though are they? different sort of thing
> really, using different methods with v.little in common method wise. One
> problem is human behaviour is constantly changing. So are economies, 
> values,
> etc. So constant new territory appearing and the old disappearing. Also
> can't do experiments very easily as manipulation of conditions, etc, not
> moralor practical. So always big danger in human sciences of bogus claims 
> of
> science as robustness so hard to achieve. Economic theory is awfully
> speculative according to some philosophers.
>
> Nick Maxwell suggests it would be better called social inquiry rather than
> social science.
>
> [Case]
> Saying that social sciences are behind does not mean they are invalid or 
> not
> catching up. I would say they are still in the stage of deciding what
> questions to ask and how to fit together the answers found so far.
> Meteorology took a big hit when Lorenz showed that long term prediction is
> impossible in principle but it is not like all the meteorologists folded 
> up
> their tents and went home.
>
> The study of complex systems is even younger than the social sciences and 
> it
> is having a transforming effect on all sciences.
>
> I don't mean to suggest that Asimov's Hari Seldon is on the verge of
> unleashing psychohistory on us but the fruits of social sciences are 
> finding
> their way into our culture. They fact that such application goes unnoticed
> is more disturbing than the lack of progress in the social sciences. 
> Social
> inquiry? I think not.
>
>
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