22 JUN 2012 by ideonexus
What Might Be VS What Is
It has hitherto been a serious impediment to the progress of knowledge, that is in investigating the origin or causes of natural productions, recourse has generally been had to the examination, both by experiment and reasoning, of what might be rather than what is. The laws or processes of nature we have every reason to believe invariable. Their results from time to time vary, according to the combinations of influential circumstances; but the process remains the same. Like the poet or the pa...Folksonomies: observation
Folksonomies: observation
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notes
notesLooking for one is less productive than observing the other.
21 JUN 2012 by ideonexus
James Randi Definition of Science
Science is best defined as a careful, disciplined, logical search for knowledge about any and all aspects of the universe, obtained by examination of the best available evidence and always subject to correction and improvement upon discovery of better evidence. What's left is magic. And it doesn't work. 1 notes
notesExpansive, but succinct.
09 MAY 2012 by ideonexus
No Need for Erroneous Assumptions in Science
The laws of nature, as we understand them, are the foundation of our knowledge in natural things. So much as we know of them has been developed by the successive energies of the highest intellects, exerted through many ages. After a most rigid and scrutinizing examination upon principle and trial, a definite expression has been given to them; they have become, as it were, our belief or trust. From day to day we still examine and test our expressions of them. We have no interest in their reten... 1 notes
notesAnd disproving an established law would be a great discovery for a scientist.
13 FEB 2012 by ideonexus
Nothing is Known by Guess
Nothing is known in our profession by guess; and I do not believe, that from the first dawn of medical science to the present moment, a single correct idea has ever emanated from conjecture: it is right therefore, that those who are studying their profession should be aware that there is no short road to knowledge; and that observation on the diseased living, examination of the dead, and experiments upon living animals, are the only sources of true knowledge; and that inductions from these ar...Folksonomies: empiricism medicine
Folksonomies: empiricism medicine
1 notes
notesIn medicine, everything is known from examination of the dead and experiments on living animals. A bit of wisdom from 1851.
04 JAN 2012 by ideonexus
Science is a Progressive Activity
Science is a progressive activity. The outstanding peculiarity of man is that he stumbled onto the possibility of progressive activities. Such progress, the accumulation of experience from generation to generation, depended first on the development of language, then of writing and finally of printing. These allowed the accumulation of tradition and of knowledge, of the whole aura of cultural inheritance that surrounds us. This has so conditioned our existence that it is almost impossible for ... 1 notes
notesIt depends on language, writing, and printing in order to build upon preceding ideas. We build upon the culture we are born into, which makes its examination and scrutiny difficult.
09 SEP 2011 by ideonexus
Look at the Total Form
If any person thinks the examination of the rest of the animal kingdom an unworthy task, he must hold in like disesteem the study of man. For no one can look at the elements of the human frame—blood, flesh, bones, vessels, and the like—without much repugnance. Moreover, when anyone of the parts or structures, be it which it may, is under discussion, it must not be supposed that it is its material composition to which attention is being directed or which is the object of the discussion, bu... 1 notes
notesAristotle from "Parts of Animals". Appears to be arguing that the parts of a biological being do not matter, but rather the animal in totality.
17 JUN 2011 by ideonexus
God Made Man With Reason
For being educated, from my cradle, in the grossest superstition and idolatry, God was pleased to make my own reason, and such as made use of theirs, the happy instruments of my conversion. Thus I have been very early accustomed to examination and enquiry, and taught not to captivate my understanding, no more than my senses to any man or society whatsoever.
1 notes
notesAnd understanding should be based on that and not be given over to other men or society.
18 MAY 2011 by ideonexus
Scooby Doo is a Show About Skeptics
A series called 'The X Files', which pays lip-service to sceptical
examination of the paranormal, is skewed heavily towards the
reality of alien abductions, strange powers and government complicity
in covering up just about everything interesting. Almost
never does the paranormal claim turn out to be a hoax or a
psychological aberration or a misunderstanding of the natural
world. Much closer to reality, as well as a much greater public
service, would be an adult series ('Scooby Doo' does it f...Folksonomies: skepticism science education
Folksonomies: skepticism science education
1 notes
notesIt is the exact opposite of the X-Files.
