Re: what is understanding?

[twayburn@juno.com (Thomas L Wayburn)]

On Thu, 10 Jul 1997 20:03:34 -0600 trappe@PHYSICS.UTEXAS.EDU (Karl
Trappe) writes:
> > I digress to tell a pertinent story.   Prof. Gans, my first wife's
> > chemistry professor, asked, "Why is glass transparent?"   Well, you
> > relate the myth of absorption and re-emission of photons, etc.   But 
> he
> > comes back with, "Why does that happen?"   Perhaps, you can give a
> > deeper explanation, Dave.   But, it's all on the surface - even if 
> you
> > describe how the quarks do their thing.  You still haven't explained 
> why
> > glass is transparent.  And, the transparency of glass is ONLY A
> > PHENOMENON.   The noumenon is unknowable!    Prof. Gans concludes,
> > "Magic".   Science can only put things "in other words".
> And that is why I call Physics a succession of lies, each of which 
> makes us
> more comfortable.   I'm not trying to insult my profession, just get a 
> grip
> on "reality"  (the quotes are for Jack Urestsky-smile, Jack) Karl
>
> Dr. Karl I. Trappe                              Desk Phone:  (512) 
> 471-4152
> Physics Dept, Mail Stop C-1600                  Demo Office: (512) 
> 471-5411
> The University of Texas at Austin               Home Phone:  (512) 
> 264-1616
> Austin, Texas 78712-1081
I appreciate your observation and corroboration.   Thanks and all the
best / Tom Wayburn