von Braun's quote

[Gillies, Lindsay]

Ah, but even the physical products of science are not effective in the sense 
rich seems worried about (a worry I share).  The industrial strength of a 
Manhattan project, or a Pennemunde (or a Dora camp) is necessary to carry 
most deadly science into action.  In fact (to continue pillorying WvB) 
Hitler's analogical ranting in all its amoral baseness should not obscure 
the sins of a Werner von Braun in all their scientific elegance.  In 
Werner's case, however, as with Speer, we have not only the scientific 
genius, but what is more critical the industrial/organizational genius.  The 
differing histories of the scientific/industrial nexus around the Manhattan 
project and around Heisenberg's efforts in Deutchland provide much of this 
sort of food for thought.
________________________________
Well, if an equation can be an "elegant blend of philosophy and
hardware", why not of philosophy and science?  Wouldn't science be
closer to philosophy than hardware?  I have very fuzzy ideas about this
whole thing, but tend to see science as just another language, a tool
for communiating ideas, just as philosophy, or literature for that
matter.  Maybe it is just that von Braun's assertion is "not elegant".

Saludos, Juan.


Science can be thought of as another language but its physical products
are much more dangerous than literature or philosophy.  Some might
disagree and say well words can be just as deadly in that they are the
ingriedient that leads to someone to act in a physical sense upon those
ideas.  I guess what I would say is wouldn't it be nice if we could
debate ideas and not act them out on a physical level which science
neatly provides in gathering up matter to destroy matter even if only in
the act of knowing more about that matter.  But I'm not too keen on this
arguement seeing as thought/action seem to dance with each other and who
do you blame then-Hitler for melding it together intellectually (sic),
Eichmann for carrying thought into practical action, and IG Farben in
making Eichmann's job possible.  For what it's worth...

rich
nyc