tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37148773.post8913732537126349323..comments2024-03-27T14:50:47.345-04:00Comments on <center>Sandwalk</center>: SEED Reviews The 10,000 Year ExplosionLarry Moranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05756598746605455848noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37148773.post-6488510050083785652009-03-23T12:04:00.000-04:002009-03-23T12:04:00.000-04:00The other name for "just so stories" is "hypothese...The other name for "just so stories" is "hypotheses." Science doesn't get far without them although technology can proceed for a while.<BR/><BR/>Lewontin and his sort did however give us a real innovation--"just ain't so stories." For example:<BR/><BR/>anthropogenic global warming? Just ain't so-you're a liberal<BR/><BR/>gene differences among human groups? Just ain't so-you're a racist<BR/><BR/>evolution? Just ain't so-you're an atheist<BR/><BR/>While just ain't so stories have become an important part of American politics and public policy they really haven't done anything for science in my view.<BR/><BR/>A good read is U. Segerstraale, "Defenders of the Truth", Oxford 2001.Henry Harpendinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17323186101339026326noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37148773.post-77314656100212758252009-03-23T03:04:00.000-04:002009-03-23T03:04:00.000-04:00Skepticism is lacking as a value, generally, while...Skepticism is lacking as a value, generally, while unthinking credulity seems the norm. From this layman's point of view, science is not a thing or a collection of human beings; it is (or should be) a rigorous process of discovery of the patterns underlying our existence, and not the reasons for these patterns. I see, in print, too many "scientific"-seeming people use the word or concept "belief" or "believe" in their utterances. Science has become a thing to believe in, even by (especially by?) self-proclaimed atheists. I am glad to see this skeptical blog. End of rant. Thanks for listening.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com