Re: Evolution/Theory

["L. R. Cartwright (Larry)" <physics@SCNC.CPS.K12.MI.US>]

On Sat, 21 Aug 1999, Cliff Parker wrote:
> > what word do I reserve for Joe Rockhead's theory of
> > gravitation, which says "the force between objects of mass varies as
> > the inverse cube?"
>
> One needs two words for such a theory -- EXTREMELY WRONG!!   Caps and
> exclamation points also help.

Cliff, I respectfully disagree to the following extent.

Science, according to the rules we have established and agreed to
play by, doesn't recognize "right" and "wrong".  It only recognizes:
(1) "substantiated by the currently available physical evidence [and
observational technology]", (2) "unsubstantiable at the present time",
and (3) "contradicted by the currently available physical evidence".

Personally and professionally, I think the world in general and science in
particular would be a lot better off if we made a reasonable attempt to
avoid caps and exclamation points in dealing with our disagreements and
differences.  I have decided that beating someone up because they disagree
with me is bad practice, no matter how firmly convinced I am of my
rightness.  To me this is part of the essence of good science as well as
part of the essence of Christianity.

Political correctness?  No.  Respectful human intercourse?  Yes.

Best wishes,

Larry

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Larry Cartwright
Physics and Physical Science Teacher
Charlotte High School, 378 State Street, Charlotte MI 48813
<physics@scnc.cps.k12.mi.us> or <science@scnc.cps.k12.mi.us>

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~