tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2481298417819219839.post2031815744860108914..comments2024-03-28T11:43:27.547+00:00Comments on A K Haart: Is that a fact?A K Haarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05897490979828603179noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2481298417819219839.post-55152557918291009702012-05-04T21:17:35.523+01:002012-05-04T21:17:35.523+01:00James - indeed!James - indeed!A K Haarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05897490979828603179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2481298417819219839.post-62853561669471817282012-05-04T16:10:31.055+01:002012-05-04T16:10:31.055+01:00Such claims are what we call wisdom, politics or d...Such claims are what we call wisdom, politics or delusion, depending on the claimant’s status within the current power structure.<br /><br />Alternatively, it could be having too much time on one's hands. ;-)James Highamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14525082702330365464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2481298417819219839.post-24070392685042274172012-05-02T19:40:13.864+01:002012-05-02T19:40:13.864+01:00Sam - using your analogy, I would say the bookmark...Sam - using your analogy, I would say the bookmarks are now skewed away from our best interests. E Coli is found on lettuce but we are warned about red meat, that kind of thing.<br /><br />There is a problem with open research in certain areas such as pharmaceuticals where the investment is huge. <br /><br />On the other hand, many pharmaceuticals don't work as claimed and more open research might bring this out earlier. <br /><br />A huge amount of research is worthless and the number of PhD theses that are never cited grows year on year. It's about 50% now I believe.<br /><br />Interesting but difficult questions I reckon.<br /><br />Demetrius - which of course was a useful fact!A K Haarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05897490979828603179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2481298417819219839.post-44930633099230048432012-05-02T15:32:55.327+01:002012-05-02T15:32:55.327+01:00I see no ships.I see no ships.Demetriushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17198549581667363991noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2481298417819219839.post-27615252293694082192012-05-02T12:09:32.846+01:002012-05-02T12:09:32.846+01:00At one level, there is nothing more than our exper...At one level, there is nothing more than our experience - which is the Spinoza/Huxley point. But it should be possible to "bookmark" which of our fleeting psychological states are important, and which are trivial. Half-memories of dreams are insignificant facts, whereas how to stop arterial bleeding and how to stop <i>e coli</i> multiplying are important facts. I think it is a readjustment which is required, rather than a root-and-branch reassessment. I'm not sure whether we have lost the plot because of human malevolence, or whether we have just entered a phase where the map is inadequate for the new territory. Or, to use the earlier analogy, we have mislaid the bookmarks and we are trying to remember a lot of new books...<br /><br />What do you think of the opening of scientific research to public scrutiny?<br /><br /> http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/may/01/open-free-access-academic-research<br /><br />If it is real (as opposed to government flim-flam) I have two problems with it. First, what sense will lay people make of advanced science? Second, it could lead to de-investment. I have limited knowledge of this area, but I was told by a science academic that one Uni which was excellent at bringing in private funding was valued by its sponsors because they kept their mouths shut and did not publish until the product was "in the bag".Sam Vegahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05978971199859845931noreply@blogger.com