On Sun, 27 Dec 1998 09:23:54 +0000 (GMT) "Julian F. V. Vincent" 
<[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> One of the problems in trying to develop an approach to doing science is
> finding the limits of applicability.  Where are the limits to the
> biomimetics / bionics approach?  What defines them?  Nominally one might
> say that non-biological areas such as high temperature, high speed and
> electronics cannot be a part of biomimetics.  But an analogue of wood made
> from GFRP can stop bullets; an analogue of nacre can withstand high
> temperature and be very tough; analogues of the wiring of the nervous
> system can give new types of electronics.  Where are the limits?  They
> have to be there.  Knowing where they are is essential when one comes to
> writing out a grant proposal or (more critically) taking on an industrial
> contract.  Underpromise and overdeliver is a good motto.  But the path of
> failure goes via overpromise and underdeliver.

People having evolved, natural selection (via the extended phenotype) now has 
access to temperatures from absolute zero to fusing hydrogen, and to any 
substance that a chemist can synthesize.  I realize that this is the equivalent 
of saying that people are a part of nature, and that therefore everything under 
the sun is natural.  Thus removing the word `artificial' from the language is 
probably unhelpful as it reduces the entropy of English by a tiny amount.  But 
it is true - a truth that illustrates the primary law of applied science (which 
I've just made up): The more fundamental a philosophical truth is, the less its 
practical application.

Yours unhelpfully but wishing a Happy New Year,

Adrian
_________________________________________________________________________
                                     |
Dr Adrian Bowyer                     |        email - [log in to unmask]   
Senior Lecturer                      | web - http://www.bath.ac.uk/~ensab
Department of Mechanical Engineering | telephone - +44 1225 826826 x 5453
Faculty of Engineering and Design    |              fax - +44 1225 826928
University of Bath                   |
Bath BA2 7AY                         |
UK                                   |
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