Education C&I 473

Doug Ingram
April 1, 1994

		In-class assignment - "What is science?"

	What science is			What science is not
	---------------			-------------------
	honesty				advertising
	integrity			politics
	broadening			certainty
	insightful			boring (usually)
	reductionist			luxury
	error				religion (usually)
	analysis			war

	This is a very idealistic and philosophical way to look at science,
I know, but I'm an idealistic person.  Just as the Greeks felt there were 
perfect "forms" that real objects/events were only shadows of, so I feel
about what science should be and what science is.  I try to teach what
science should be, and so I will attempt to differentiate, where possible,
between the ideal and the reality of a student as I remember it.

	Theory				Practice
	------				--------
	integrity			bias
	exciting			frightening/dull
	inspiring			plodding
	logical				haphazard
	exploration of fundamentals	filling in details/repetition
	clear				subtle

	What we're left with is the reality to deal with.  In that sense,
science is still very important since it is a natural product of an
unrepressed curiosity.  But, science is still seen as only within the realm
of those who "get it."  Science is also the source of new technology, 
whether or not society is ready to deal with it, so it can be frightening
in this sense as well.

	Science still is a logical process deep down, but it is very subtle.
It requires an insight that can only come indirectly, a fact that is a
source of most of the frustration, I feel.  Despite this, most people would
be inclined to give science a 2nd or 3rd chance because of humankind's
innate curiosity.

	Science is, in a sense, our future.  That's because it tells us
about our place in the world, and the directions science goes often define
the direction society goes.  In an idealistic sense, science provides a
great counterpoint to the "chaos" that seems to be inherent in the world.
So it is important as a bedrock in my mind.