At stake is the fact that the natural
condition of the human being is quite often rationalized away,
regardless of the reason.
The efficiency of science
In recent years language has changed probably more than in its
entire history. Still, these changes are not of the depth and
breadth of scientific and technological praxis. Computer
science, as Dijkstra pointed out, deserves a better name, more in
line with the fundamental change this practical experience
brings about. ("Would anyone call surgery knife science"? he
asked.) We don't have better names for many other fields of new
human experience: artificial life, artificial intelligence,
genetics, qualitative reasoning, and memetics. But we do have
powerful new notation systems, new ways of reasoning (combining
qualitative and quantitative aspects), and fresh methods of
expression (interactive). Consequently, a new human condition
resulting from the practice of science will probably emerge.
This condition will reflect the changed premises of scientific
experiment.
Experimentation joined logical analysis over 350 years ago.
Simulation, the experiment of the civilization of illiteracy, is
becoming the dominant scientific form of expression of the
systematic search for the multitude of elements involved in new
scientific theories and in their applications. A variety of
simulators embody knowledge and doubt. This can be seen in a
broader context.
Pages:
717
718
719
720
721
722
723
724
725
726
727
728
729
730
731
732
733
734
735
736
737
738
739
740
741