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Re: Simulations



Date: Wed, 14 Jan 1998 07:26:59 -0700
Reply-to: phys-l@mailer.uwf.edu
From: Larry Smith <Larry.Smith@SNOW.EDU>
To: phys-l@atlantis.UWF.EDU
Subject: Re: Simulations

At 10:33 PM -0400 1/13/98, LUDWIK KOWALSKI wrote:
In this particular case, Larry, the situation is not in
the lack of an agreement. Most science teachers would
agree that having one common simple language would be
desirable.

I'm not sure I'm one of them (and I teach Gen-Ed
Intro-type Computer Science classes on occasion).

Would most humanities and social science teachers agree
that having one common simple language would be desirable?
If so, would it be the same one the science teachers
want? In other words, is one language ideally suited for
all applications (even if we limit the discussion to
undergrad students)?

How about this for an argument (for the sake of
argument)?: If one simple computer language were clearly
superior to all the rest, natural selection would dictate
that over time it _would_ become the dominant language.
It would just happen. Good argument, huh?

Counter argument: clearly the dominant desktop operating
system is not anywhere near the best.

So, on the other hand, I'm _not_ sure I'm _not_ one of
them. :-)

But I worry. Doesn't standardization (in all arenas)
stifle innovation? What if we all settle on one great
language and teach it to all our students for 7 years and
then a _better_ one comes along?

Larry

I certainly don't want to prohibit the use of
any programmiing language someone finds useful,
but I think it would be good if we all had one language
in common. I would vote for BASIC or FORTRAN, but
these are the two I know a little about.

I look at it much the same way that I look at our literary
language. It is nice that many of us can speak and read
Russian, French, German, and Spainish and it leads to
the appreciation of another culture with its literature and
music, etc. But it is nice that most of us can get by in
a common language, English. As most of you know
some of the most difficult conflicts among human beings
arise from language disputes and religious disputes.
Americans are lucky since English (or American English)
if you prefer is becoming the "lingua franca" of the
scientific world. Everybody is publishing in English.
Since we don't have to learn another literary language
surely we could learn a common programming language.

Sorry about the sermon. I'll try to do better next time.
WBN
Barlow Newbolt
Department of Physics and Engineering
Washington and Lee University
Lexington, VA 24450
Telephone and Phone Mail: 540-463-8881
Fax: 540-463-8884
e-mail: NewboltW@madison.acad.wlu.edu

"Prediction is very difficult, especially about the future."

Neils Bohr