Re: Genetics

Andrew Boyd (andrew at pcug.org.au)
Tue, 03 Sep 1996 19:01:24 +1000

At 01:07 PM 9/2/96 +1000, Peter Hughes wrote:
(snip)
>On Sat, 31 Aug 1996, Harro Hieronimus wrote:
>>Let's say
>> it this way: If you want a certain result just take the correct reckon
method and you >>will get it. Is that
>> science?

>This has always been the case and will always be the case with science.
>We can show things to a reasonable level of doubt and then the personal
>opinion starts to operate. There have been some classic cases where the
>theory has not come close to matching what the evidence actually was.

Howdy! It's interesting... I've heard of experiments where the scientist
concerned came to a conclusion, then designed an experiment to prove the
conclusion... I'd have thought it was better organised the other way, but
anyhow.. I've seen ministerial advisors work the same way, though ;) - it
seems to be a basic part of human nature, to want to be right.

Is there a field of science that studies how experiments are clouded by
personal opinion? My old Dad (the hippie) would say it's just the
subjective nature of personal reality at work. But I'm not so sure.

Regards, Andrew Boyd
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Andrew Boyd - andrew at pcug.org.au - http://www.pcug.org.au/~andrew
Frex's Koan - "What is the sound of one hand typing?"
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