OT: Would a, could a, should a

My favorite science was physics. Who wouldn’t find understanding the universe fascinating? I never thought of math as a science but rather the language used to describe science. Like halbert my math studies ended with Calc II. Differential Equations stretched my ability to comprehend beyond my limits...or maybe because it was the 70s (I had way too much fun I’m told). When forced to take classes other than those required for an engineering Degree, I discovered a whole new world. Ended up with Psychology, Philosophy, Anthropology undergrad degrees. Fit much better with the 70s and turned out fine in the long run. Talk about a 180!

mattam,
Are you my brother from another mother?
My EXACT thoughts/beliefs.

On Philosophy, my favorite class I ever took was a lower division P class.
Intro to Political Philosophy.
I credit that class with teaching me how to really read.

I'm not sure who said it---but here's a different take on cosmology (not an exact quote):

The astrophysicists and cosmologists scaled the peaks of ignorance, and found the theologians and philosophers who had been sitting there for centuries.

alphnull--that is why our process of teaching science turns so many kids off. We do it backwards, by teaching biology first and physics last. IMO, we should teach observation first. No theory, just how to observe, and notice things until at least the age of 12 or 13. Harness the curiosity. Then, when they can do basic algebra, start with physics--Newton's laws, etc. THEN chemistry, then biology. Heck, what they teach today in 'baby bio' at the college level was unheard of when we were students. Biology back then was primarily about observation--no real experimentation was really possible except replicating Mendel's work with sweet peas.

But, that is moving afield.

halbert:
:
From the Wikipedia article cited below:

"Robert Jastrow (September 7, 1925 – February 8, 2008) was an American astronomer and planetary physicist. He was a NASA scientist, populist author and futurist."

He apparently had opinions on a number of things, some of them controversial.

This is from the "Quotes" section of the article:

"For the scientist who has lived by his faith in the power of reason, the story ends like a bad dream. He has scaled the mountain of ignorance; he is about to conquer the highest peak; as he pulls himself over the final rock, he is greeted by a band of theologians who have been sitting there for centuries."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/robert_jastrow#quotes

Poor Mendel. He was ridiculed for his experiments and died (which so frequently happened) before his experiments were accepted as correct - in fact he was a little too correct. He didn't have the benefit of statistics, and modern statistics have shown that there should have been more variation in his results. I suppose if he couldn't decide if a pea was smooth or wrinkled, it ended up in the box where it was most needed. 😉

Yes Halbert...but did your professor even understand it...credentials and titles like your professor...are like special parking spaces...pretty...fancy name tags...different shades of grey uniforms for the underpaid and overworked...Halbert no offence to you...I can only trust forbearance


not recognition...realization

alephnull said...

When I was in college going part time for freaking ever, I fell in love with mathematics.
I didn't pursue my degree past a bachelor because of life's needs. Children, food, housing, ...etc.
So I settled for a life in programming and other I/T areas.
I have been: Help Desk, Computer Operator, Network Analyst, Computer Programmer, Oracle DBA. Never a security/firewall guy or project analyst or even CIO.
Although I was offered a job as a CIO by the State of KS for their biggest agency, I refused, even I recognized that someone with no experience should take on that job.

Oh how I wish I could have gone on further in Mathematics. Academia, NSA forensic analyst.
I don't know, the sky had limits, but it would have been fulfilling.
To infinity and beyond! Yes Buzz, I would have loved to have gone there also.

Can't think like this, man.
Just stop it. Seriously.
Reflect on what you did do. Children. Way cooler.

logos--I suspect the point of hermeneutics (if there is one) is that one always adds their own meaning to anything that is said or written. For the record, the man was a fantastic teacher with epic book lists and reading assignments on the syllabus. He was that rarest of profs--he taught us how to think--how to learn.

He who has ears to hear--let him hear

Logo, everytime I read one of your posts, I find myself applying the principles of hermeneutics--that's your word for the day. The art of understanding a communication...be it verbal..written..visual..touched..coming to complete understanding is the goal..and we see in the mirror dimly...be well, logos, be well. Is the surf up today?

I don't dismiss learning...science...math and the rest...it is not a test...just my unique answers to one...we are all uniquely the same...spinning in the tribal mode of evolution...the path is as straight as the artic curve...


Halbert...got the bug...and like brer fox...I laid low...its kew the Tasmin sea is boiling hot ready to migrate the pulse of its swell to maui nei … its all good fun...words water taters and haters...