Re: What makes science powerful?

[Larry Cartwright <exit60@CABLESPEED.COM>]

cliff parker wrote:
> "What makes science such a powerful tool as we try to understand the world around us?

I believe one of the crucial elements of the power of science is our
meticulous attention to and respect for that which has come before.
IMHO Newton's 1676 comment to his often adversarial colleague Robert
Hooke is still a solid cornerstone of what science is all about: "If I
have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants."

New theories and new observations and the interpretation thereof are
never held hostage to our previous beliefs, and there have been
occasions when new discoveries have shattered rather than extended our
previous understanding.  However, the vast majority of the pursuit of
knowledge that we call "science" proceeds by gradually extending that
which we already believe we understand.

Best wishes,

Larry

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Larry Cartwright                    Retired Physics Teacher
<exit60@cablespeed.com>              Charlotte MI 48813 USA
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"We may in fact be remembered in 3003 for the space program
and little else. In Michael Hart's book The 100, where he
audaciously ranks the 100 most influential figures of all
time, John F. Kennedy makes the list - solely because of
the impetus he gave to the moon program ... How many people
today (after only 500 years) can tell you a single thing
about Ferdinand and Isabella ... beyond Columbus?"
          -- Tad Daley, Fellow, UCLA Center for Governance.
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