Klarinet Archive - Posting 000285.txt from 1999/04

From: "Steven J Goldman, MD" <sjgoldman@-----.com>
Subj: RE: [kl] Religion vs. Science
Date: Mon, 5 Apr 1999 13:11:01 -0400

Now, now, enlightened scientists and doctors realize that what are accepted
beliefs today very well may be overturned sometime in the future. This is
inevitable because improved technology allows one to perform experiments
that were impossible before their development. For example, Einstein spent
the last 30 years of his life searching for a unified theory. It was doomed
to failure, not because he did not have the intellect to derive it, but
rather there were pieces of the puzzle that he could never have access to
because the technology needed to discover these pieces just was not
available. Any scientist or doctor who believes that all the theoretical
assumptions or medical treatments are the best they can be and irrefutable
is rather like the musician who feels he has a perfect understanding of a
piece and need not create it anew. Both are short sighted, foolish and
arrogant. I am acutely aware that some of the treatments I use on my
severely ill patients may one day be shown to be counter productive. Yet
what else can I do. Until better treatments come along (and I feel that
there will be many revolutions in medicine in the next 25 years that will
overturn many of today's standard methods), I can only do the best I can
with what I have. Also, we may be coming very close to understanding the
fundamental laws of physics. Fortunately there is no light at the end of the
tunnel for musicians. There are no fundamental laws, no unequivocal end
point. And thank goodness for that. How boring it would become.

Steve

-----Original Message-----
From: James [mailto:jparkin9@-----.net]
Subject: Re: [kl] Religion vs. Science

George Kidder wrote:

Very good point. And who knows what "science" will discover to be so in
200 years that will contradict what is considered by scientists today to
be irrefutable? I think you've made my point much better than I. I
should like to be a graceful as you when my hot button is touched. Thank
you.

James

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