X-Message-Number: 10246 From: Olaf Henny <> Subject: CryoNet #10233, Questioning Goedel Date: Sat, 15 Aug 1998 17:51:33 -0700 Re: Message #10233 Subject: A math education for Bob. From: "Perry E. Metzger" <> >> Peter Merel (#10221) points out that questioning Goedel and other >> eminences is presumptuous. > >Preposterous is more like it. This, Sir, is a servile attitude, which has absolutely no business in our enlightened time and is a great obstacle to further development of scientific concepts. Our societies have historically suffered greatly from an attitude of deference to authority. In politics it leads to totalitarianism and science it leads to dead ends. *Everything* should be questioned, whenever there is a reason or even occasion to do so. If a theorem is sound and unassailable, it will stand on its own merit and withstand all tests and contests. If it needs to be protected out of veneration to its *exalted* originator, then it stands indeed on weak footings. As scientific (or any other) progress affords new insights and knowledge we *must* test old hypotheses against that new found information. If these hypotheses stand up against these tests, then they will only be strenghtened, - if not, they may and should be modified accordingly. Anything else is religion and not science. Best, Olaf ___________________________________ Tolerance is wisdom's finest fruit ___________________________________ Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=10246