From: Lee Corbin (lcorbin@tsoft.com)
Date: Tue Aug 27 2002 - 23:46:07 MDT
Spike writes
> If we were to use Burke's books as a guide, I think we could do
> a reasonable job in presenting history from a non-political viewpoint.
I agree. I found Burke's presentations to be objective.
I can almost prove that they're objective!
A friend went to some talks by Burke in Palo Alto California.
During the question and answer session it emerged that Burke
is extremely anti-technology. (Yes, I know that this is very
hard to believe, but my friend is an extremely credible witness.)
In fact, Burke claimed that he presented his series Connections
to make everyone aware of just how all these terrible things
had their beginnings. (Here I may be paraphrasing and starting
to get it wrong.)
But *none* of that attitude was evident in Burke's series.
Well, in retrospect with perfect 20-20, perhaps one can
hear a little mocking here and there? I don't know.
Until someone provides contrary evidence, I think that you
are exactly right about Burke's portrayals, and what a model
for objectivity they are.
Amara writes
> For every scientist that does what he/she does for the simple love
> of discovery, you will find a scientist driven to do...
> Do you really think this 'human' (whatever) element can be
> separated from science? I don't. I don't think I
> would want to, either.
Yes, you are right. Ever since Watson and Crick's story (as
told by Watson in The Double Helix) people have become more
acquainted with the passions that lie behind the behavior
of scientists, who really are just like other people.
I guess that there are two issues in this thread:
(1) is objective narration possible, even as an ideal?
(2) if it is, is it desirable?
(3) can science, or scientific truth (either one, take
your pick) be objective or value free?
I say yes to all three questions.
Lee
P.S. For (1) I admit that no one ever perfectly expunges
their own personal prejudices, cultural habits, mores,
and assumptions. It's just that one can make it really
hard to tell if you are pro- or anti-science, or liberal
or conservative, etc.
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