I just thought I would forward this from Darwin-L for food for
thought.
"The men of experiment are like the ant, they only collect and use; the
reasoners resemble spiders, who make cobwebs out of their own substance. But
the bee takes the middle course: it gathers its material from the flowers of
the garden and field, but transforms and digests it by a power of its own.
Not unlike this is the true business of philosophy (science); for it neither
relies solely or chiefly on the powers of the mind, nor does it take the
matter which it gathers from natural history and mechanical experiments and
lay up in the memory whole, as it finds it, but lays it up in the
understanding altered and disgested. Therefore, from a closer and purer
league between these two faculties, the experimental and the rational (such
as has never been made), much may be hoped" [Francis Bacon, Novum Organum,
Liberal Arts Press, Inc., New York, p 93.]
Jim Craven
*------------------------------------------------------------------*
* James Craven * "The envelope is only defined--and *
* Dept of Economics * expanded--by the test pilot who dares*
* Clark College * to push it." *
* 1800 E. McLoughlin Blvd. * (H.H. Craven Jr.(a gifted pilot) *
* Vancouver, Wa. 98663 * *
* (360) 992-2283 * "For those who have fought for it, *
* [EMAIL PROTECTED] * freedom has a taste the protected *
* * will never know." (Otto Von Bismark) *
* * *
* MY EMPLOYER HAS NO ASSOCIATION WITH MY PRIVATE/PROTECTED OPINION *
