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Show Science's value Editor: I would like to make a few comments on your article about the Reynolds Lecture recently presented. Your write up in the Chronicle certainly leaves something to be desired. My comments are, of course, from a student point of view. First about mathematics: I place a high emphasis on math. I would like to see an introductory course in calculus taught at the high school level. The reason for this is, that while math is essential to understanding a large portion of science it also teaches students the rigor required in scientific thought. Your comment that math is considered a stumbling block to be overcome by most students is not correct. I enjoy math and can see beauty in it by itself. The understanding of the value of math should be evident as it is learned. This is obvious from the way math is taught. Admittedly there is a lot to learn that is purely mechanics, but math in general is taught through application of mechanics to real problems. Second, the split between the two cultures you talk is a split of the literary not being educated in science. You will rarely find a scientist who cannot discuss literature at an intelligent level. Consider though the point brought out by CP. Snow: In meeting a stranger on the street and informing him that you are a chemist, the stranger is not insulted to say "I know nothing about chemistry." Tell him you are an English grad though and he feels insulted to know nothing about your field. Third, the comment that science has been imposed too much as the only model in humanistic studies is not correct. i Science cannot be impo enough. The reason for this is a too many fields claim to f scientific which, in fact, refuse' be scientific. The scienif method is the ultimate of 0 This is because in science J cannot proceed by a logical se! steps, you must proceed bv correct set of steps. The criti for correctness is of necessity! extension of logic f T. Craig Thurj Moore Machine I Editor: j I M.M. you goofed! Keith Ml ' does not live in the Tabenj ' organ. He lives in ! coke-machine in the basemen the Tabernacle. j j p.s. Oops! did I spill a secret? c Prepare to kill Editor: At the beginning of the enlightening discussion on March 5, in Orson Spencer Hall concerning the relationship between the biology professors at the University and the biological testing at Dugway, there was some plain and fancy footwork by the biology professors when they became suspicious that they might be sandbagged by the questioners. At the end of the discussion it was not the professors, but the audience that had been sandbagged. The last idea with which the audience was rewarded was that a scientist's personal integrity had been questionned. If the offended professor has not already read Barry Commoner's "Science and Survival", I would recommend that he do so. If he had read it, maybe it would be worth rescanning. Thp Inffir- hphinri the idea, that individual, hard working--so we take care of our own) so they won't tax where it can be most effective; laws that drive the problem underground, only to ferment and become worse; anti-riot laws to suppress violence, which can do no more than engender resentment and more hostility towards the establishment, thus more violence (it might even arouse the sleeping SDS and Huddle people); salary raises for themselves (now where is that money coming fromTThe Salt Lake Street Repair Fund); liquor laws that satisfy their sense of morals and seal the state in some more; tuition raises to help compensate their poor tax structure and legislation (if you don't believe my lack of facts and proof, look at back issues of the Tribune, but not the Deserted News) and keep them outsiders out. My harangue begins to bang. Brian R. Shoolroy if anyone is going to have surveillance teams in the area where the army is attempting to create enough biological ammunition to destroy all life on this planet, it should be the local biologists which comes perilously close to the logic behind some of the ideas expressed by the intellectuals in Hitler's Germany. It seems to give tacit approval to the whole idea that it is acceptable and necessary to prepare to destroy hideously all life on our planet. Surely in a civilized world, there is enough creativity to develop other choices that a simplisitic prepare to kill or to be killed. At any rate, after last Wednesday's pitched semantic battle and as one of the citizens who in a democracy is supposed to make the choices, I'm wondering just where one does go to be informed. Louise Hess Sheltered lives Editor: Utah has two worthy, redeeming factors, although their worth declines the longer I stay here. First is the desert plateau, mountainous red sunset country in which Utah is located. Second is the University, as surprising at this may seem, which despite the many conservative permeations from the state, is the only liberal, progressive institution in Utah. Ah, but now the crux of my bitch(es). The Utah Legislature, far from being an exception and progressor, is the epitome of conservative narrow-mindedness. In fact they're just downright stupid. But Utah legislators are a product of their environment (like all of us.) An environment they've obviously never been out of. With the church such a potent domineering force in Utah society its surprising the legislators hear anything about the outside world. And here, they have-all the rotten liberal vibrations that are shaking society (maybe this is just a device of the church to compel Utahns to harden their attitudes and confine still further their narrow scope so they'll still be secure in their locust-lined beehives). To list a few of their accomplishments: tax laws that hinder industrial growth; education appropriations that fail' to meet even current needs and repress any future development in Utah's archaic, inept education system (we don't want federal bread-- we're conservative, |
