Re: From Knowledge Animals to Information Beings

Bruce Buchanan (buchanan@HOOKUP.NET)
Wed, 24 May 1995 13:13:00 -0500


Onar Aam <onar@HSR.NO> writes: (to Don Mikulecky)

> Just because my language is incompatible with yours doesn't mean
> it's bad, you know.

In _Alternate Realities: Mathematical Models and the Nature of Man_, John
L. Casti summarizes some of the criteria by which science and pseudoscience
may be identified. Among the conditions which I have noted in Onar's
writings are the following, any one of which disqualifies a theory as
science:
- spurious similarities
- research by literary interpretation
- irrefutable hypotheses
- refusal to revise.
To these might be added idiosyncratic language that fails to support
continuing communication with shared terms of meaning.

Sorry, Onar, but I have to say that I for one agree with Don Mikulecky, and
would not want an impression to be left for you or anyone that you had won
your debate with him. It may that you do not get enough accurate feedback
but your efforts merit or deserve this much.

Cheers and best wishes.

Bruce B.