Yes, Virginia

[Andrew Dinn]

Stefan Schuber writes:

> ... IMHO there is a tremendous difference, on the one hand, between
> saying that science takes place within a culture that invokes
> politics and ethics -- and, on the other hand, giving this
> culture/politics/ethics consortium a controlling vote in the
> exercise of science. The latter, I fear, results in "politically
> correct" science, vague notions of PoMo "science" (e.g.,
> creationism), and finally a vulnerability to exactly the sort of
> mordant irony and slapstick that so wonderfully infect GR.

> To put this another way, there's no escaping the brutal reality that
> atoms can be split. The "better us than THEM" argument that
> (correctly, I think) bothers Andrew is postpartum rationalization
> that must be countered by a good grasp of history and a Pynchonesque
> sense of hilarity.

No disagreement here. And you are right it bothers me. But today has
been such a bummer that I almost lost that `Pynchonesque sense of
hilarity'. Thanks for the uplifting reminder. Now everyone . . .


Andrew Dinn
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And though Earthliness forget you,
To the stilled Earth say:  I flow.
To the rushing water speak:  I am.