On Wed, May 10, 2006 at 09:28:44AM -0400, jamikes.domain.name.hidden wrote:
>
> Thanks, Russell,
> I really do not want to continue - seems side-line to you and side line to
> me.
> I just cannot keep my mouse shut.
Seems I'm the same :)
>
> 1. The 'nonequilibrium' topics still identify a certain 'cut' within the
> boundaries of them, neglecting wider - maybe unobserved/able - effects from
> 'unrelated' sides.
The cuts appear in models to make them tractable. Experiments testing
the models are set up to approximate the conditions of the model as
well as is able. This is science. The models are applicable to
describing reality only as far as how these conditions are
approximated by the real system. This is easier in some systems than
others - it fairly easy with respect to bridges and buildings, but
much more difficult when it comes to figuring out what happens when we
double atmospheric CO_2 concentration. In the latter system there are
many interconnections, and figuring out what can be cut without
invalidating the model is no easy task.
> 3.To your last par:
> one cannot have it both ways. Einstein (what a comparison to myself!!!) did
> not accept all Newton in his thinking and tackled only certain terms in a
> new view.
> Copernicus did not abide by the well proven Flat Earth and just 'included'
> at some points his new ideas. You cannot keep creationism when you think in
> evolution.
Hence my comment about the "hand grenade". Einstein was careful to
only change one or two things at a time - he still stayed within
scientific discourse.
> I may get lost - as you say - but it won't last long. I won't
> either.
Well great, but your writings do give that impression...
> In the
> meantime I have the luxury of tasting the new ideas. And I feel I am not
> alone in these ways
>
So do I, and I really think most scientists do as well. It's probably
the teachers of science who miss out - and maybe that's what's missing
from science education, the buzz of the new.
I largely self-taught myself maths and science at school - I studied
quantum mechanics in year 11, and general relativity in year 12. Mind
you, I didn't have particularly good text books, so I had to unlearn some
stuff later on :(
--
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
A/Prof Russell Standish Phone 8308 3119 (mobile)
Mathematics 0425 253119 (")
UNSW SYDNEY 2052 R.Standish.domain.name.hidden
Australia http://parallel.hpc.unsw.edu.au/rks
International prefix +612, Interstate prefix 02
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Received on Wed May 10 2006 - 19:02:17 PDT