[MD] Science Wars

[kieffer odigaunt]

Hi Marsha,

2009/4/23 MarshaV <marshalz at charter.net>

>
> Kieffer,
>
> When billions of dollars are spent to build a machine and setup an
> experiment to prove the existence of, let's say, the Higgs boson, it should
> be acknowledged that there are a whole lot of assumptions built into the
> method of testing.


True, but a lot of those assumptions have already been useful (for good or
bad) already. The search for the Higgs boson is supported by numerous
international organisations and governments - so while i dont have the
scientific knowledge to imagine what the implications that affirmation of
the existence or non-existence of the Higgs boson would be, nevertheless, i
still think that that knowledge should be pursued - dont you?


>  It is often the case that the answer reached is, more or less, guaranteed
> by the questions being asked and the method used.


This brings to mind also the profilactic effect in medicine; the human mind
is more powerful than we imagine and sometimes works in mysterious ways.


> I heard of a test at Fermilab where out of approximately15 million testing
> events,1/2 dozen seemed to be proof of "top quark".


... are you suggesting that they reject the data that dont support what they
are looking for? I dont believe they reject that data - at some point a true
scientist will be forced by his conscience to reconcile all the data.


> How much money, prestige and current theories involved were dependent on
> this test and results?  I'm sorry, but this seems more like celebrity poker
> than an objective, neutral science experiment.


So you think the search for the Higgs boson should be abandoned?


> With the public, science still has an unquestioned, privileged position
> that maybe it just doesn't deserve.


I think there is a high percentage of people who are sceptical of science -
most of the those with into religous/spiritual scene for example.


> While you seem to already have clear opinions about science, my mind is far
> from made up.


I hope i recognise when something makes sense to me - the big bang for
example - i cant accept that there was nothing before that as Hawking says -
my philosophy demands there must be a continuum - i dont accept an untimate
source.


>  I am especially concerned when science, as a powerful system and
> institution, participates in genetically modifying food, and for the
> corporations that are providing funding.  Is this what genetic biologists
> should be doing?


I dont know enough to form a definite opinion on this - but i do think that
population growth is a big problem; to not attempt to develop food may be
one solution to keep the population down but a very painful one for those
without food.

 From the mystics point-of-view it may not matter much, but from
> philosophy's point-of-view and a grandmother's point-of-view, the questions
> should be asked and answers considered.


The universe ends when i die - a life of worry is a wasted life.

-KO