LS Re: Esthetics


Doug Renselle (renselle@on-net.net)
Wed, 21 Jan 1998 07:21:26 +0100


Platt and TLS,

Platt Holden wrote:
>
> Hi LS:
>
> A nice example of the esthetic aspect of DQ, expressed in the DQ and
> SQ
> Principle as "Dynamic Quality is more pleasing than static quality,"
> appeared in the NY Times book review Jan. 18
>
> The review was about a book called 'Lifelines: Biology Beyond
> Determinism."
> The reviewer described a battle currently being fought between those
> biologists who attribute evolution solely to the workings of genes,
> represented by Richard Dawkins, and those who favor biological
> pluralism,
> represented by Stephen Jay Gould.
>
> Here's what caught my eye:
>
> "Theoretical biologists sometimes seem to be divided by esthetic
> considerations as much as scientific ones. Where purists like Dawkins
> thrill to the cold logic of mathematical rigor, pluralists like Gould
> get
> their pleasures from the tangled bank of biological diversity. I
> suspect
> this is why the debate often seems so intangible. They aren't arguing
> about
> facts, but about which is more fun -- the ingenious equations of
> population
> genetics or the curious contrivances of the flamingo's beak and the
> panda's
> thumb. Given this, it is not surprising that the two sides can't
> agree. Who
> is to say if there is more value in the lucidity of mathematics or in
> the
> variety of nature?"
>
> A couple of points about this passage. First, it's great to see one of
> our
> principles directly confirmed by someone who probably never heard of
> the
> MoQ. Second, it's good to reminded that esthetic considerations have
> often
> been used as indicator of "truth" in the scientific community. Third,
> it's
> dawned on me that some of the Squad's differing views are more about
> esthetics than anything else.
>
> Platt
>
> Catch 29: Rational proof cannot be proved rationally. (Thanks Hugo!)
>
Platt,

Did you notice WHERE the reviewer PUT Value? Fascinating.

I want a list of your 'catches' to hang on my wall or put in my
screen-saver. These are jewels!

And yes, Hugo's recent posts are superb!

Mtty to all,

Doug Renselle.

-- 
"It is not the facts but the relation of things that results in the
universal harmony that is the sole objective reality."

Robert M. Pirsig, --on Poincaré's assessment of classical reality, in --'Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance,' p. 241, Bantam (paperback), 28th edition, 1982.

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