Either You're Clueless Or You're Lying
Hint: Clueless is better. A letter to the ed in The New York Times:
Darwin's GodA reader writes, “God may be invoked because the explanatory power of science ultimately breaks down, leaving a vacuum that must be filled” (Letters, April 1, in response to “Darwin’s God,” by Robin Marantz Henig, March 4). But why should God be invoked in the face of the unknown? Is it not enough to say, “I don’t know”? Imagining supernatural answers precludes the possibility of finding verifiable answers. This makes God and ignorance synonymous.
John Greenwald
Lowell, Mass.
The difference between science and religion? Here’s an Albert Einstein story I found in some old notes I’d taken that illustrates it pretty well. A reporter supposedly asked him, “How do you feel, knowing that so many people are trying to prove you are not right?” Einstein responded, “I have no interest in being right. I am only concerned with discovering whether I am or not.”
“I have no interest in being right. I am only concerned with discovering whether I am or not.”
This is the perspective taken when science is done right; something to which anyone involved in science should aspire. Course, the whole ego issue - wanting to BE right - often gets in the way for people, and then they can do bad science.
justin case at April 16, 2007 9:37 AM
I don't know what all the yelling is about either. It seems rather a silly proposition that my opinion matters to people : that wasn't supposed to be the focus of the exercise. Volume of profession shouted from the rooftops is always going to be thought of - likely correctly - as somebody trying to browbeat everyone else so he doesn't feel a fool.
opit at April 16, 2007 9:26 PM
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