Even before the Reith Lecture by Prince Charles is broadcast on Radio 4
tonight, the national headlines are full of his outspoken remarks about the
balance or imbalance between "instinctive wisdom" and "scientific analysis".
I doubt if the Prince will find many supporters in this forum, but before
the first brickbats get airborne I have to say I am struck by the timing
of Bryan Appleyard's article, "You asked for it" in New Scientist magazine,
22 April 2000. http://www.newscientist.com/creationism/opinion_223523.html
In the context of a masterly New Scientist special-issue about militant,
anti-science creationism, Appleyard forecasts a general swing of public
opinion against science fuelled by a perception of "cultural arrogance among
scientists" and "scientific triumphalism".
Aside from the rights and wrongs of the issues, is Appleyard right in
highlighting this kind of perception as a major factor?
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"Give people facts and you feed their minds for an hour.
Awaken curiosity and they feed their own minds for a lifetime."
I said it and I believe it | Ian Russell
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