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What is a scientist?
OLR(1979)26(12)
F. General 79:6319
Day, S. B., ed., 1978. What is a scientist? Biosci. Communs, 4(5): 241-292; 7 papers. It was a stunning revelation to Max Planck that sometimes even scientists can't be bothered with the facts. Contributors to this issue (a memorial to Professor Oscar Bodansky) grapple with the definition of a scientist, of science, its politics, culture, methods, foibles, philosophy and gnoseological limits. (fcs) 79:6320
Lolli, Gabriele, 1978. Science and common sense. Scientia, 113(9/12): 735-738. Gargani's (1978) argument that science and common sense are inseparable is refuted. The controversy is made analogous to that between Wittgenstein and Moore, and it is argued that there is the possibility of absolute knowledge unconstrained by the rules of language, and in frequent (though not qecessary) opposition to common sense. Universita di Genova, Italy. (fcs) 79:6321 Magyar, George, 1978. Science and nationalism. Scientia, I I 3(9/12): 867-884. There are claims that science can take on a national character; however, this is not found in some quantitative comparisons of British and French physics. The most nationalism can do is to modify the form (language, citation habits, institutional framework, etc.) of science. Of this, many examples are given. Culham Laboratory, UKAEA Research Group. Abingdon Oxfordshire, U.K. 79:6322 Synge, R. L. M., 1979. Wasteful research in pure and applied science. Interdiscipl. Sci. Rev., 4(2): 98-105. Research has an inherently wasteful side in that its outcome is unknown; thus in retrospect, many experiments will always show themselves to have been comparatively fruitless. Nevertheless, real waste can include research that is unnecessarily repeated, trendy studies that play only to politics or public anxieties, and research motivated to provide 'jobs for the troops.' School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7JT, U.K. (fcs) 79:6323 Todd, A. R., 1979. On the state of science. Interdiscipl. Sci. Rev., 4(2): 93-97. Civilization is indeed again at a turning point (as it was, e.g., during the industrial revolution), but the doomwatchers' predictions need not come true provided the various resource and environmental problems are realistically addressed, in this regard, the scientist must act as advocate as well as
82 !
researcher. The Royal Society, 6 Carlton House Terrace, London S W l Y 5AG, U.K. (fcs) 79:6324 Ziman, John, 1978. Human rights and the polity of science. Bull. atom. Scient., 34(8): ! 9-23. Science cannot exist independent of human values, i.e., independent of politics. Thus debate on the issue should focus on precisely what kind of transactional scientific policy should be worked for and what political goals might be pursued. A starting point for these protocols is already codified in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. University of Bristol. (fcs)
17. Marine policy treaties, etc.
and law, leases, 79:6325
Young, Elizabeth, 1978. Law of the Sea: an arms control issue. Bull. atom. Scient., 34(9): 53-56. U N C L O S !II is viewed as an arms control issue of the first order, since the question of enforcement of treaty agreements ultimately comes down to a matter of armed force. Loopholes and pitfalls in the most recent Informal Composite Negotiating Text (the fourth generation of such texts) include the unforbidden engagement by a nation in naval militarv exercises of a very broad nature within another state's Exclusive Economic Zone (usually 3-200 n.mi. offshore) as long as it has no economic purpose and does not affect the coastal state's economic activities. However, UNCLOS's ongoing, unconcluded activities may indeed provide the means by which agreement can be reached: a continuing metamorphosis of consensus by member states through an indefinite number of negotiating texts, and the institutionalization of U N C L O S as a U.N. family member with authority to regulate sea use through existing states' governments. London, England. (smf)
18. Waste disposal and pollution 79:6326 Eagle, R. A., P. A. Hardiman, M. G. Norton and R. S. Nunny, 1978. The field assessment of effects of dumping wastes at sea. 3. A survey of the sewage sludge disposal area in Lyme Bay
[England]. Fish. Res. tech. Rept, Agric. Fish. Fd, Gt Br., 49:22 pp.
Minist.
Two surveys were undertaken in Lyme Bay (October 1975, July 1976) to acquire physical, chemical and biological baseline data; to identify dispersal routes o f dumped waste; to determine physico-chemical alterations attributable to sludge dumping; and to
F. General 79:6319
Day, S. B., ed., 1978. What is a scientist? Biosci. Communs, 4(5): 241-292; 7 papers. It was a stunning revelation to Max Planck that sometimes even scientists can't be bothered with the facts. Contributors to this issue (a memorial to Professor Oscar Bodansky) grapple with the definition of a scientist, of science, its politics, culture, methods, foibles, philosophy and gnoseological limits. (fcs) 79:6320
Lolli, Gabriele, 1978. Science and common sense. Scientia, 113(9/12): 735-738. Gargani's (1978) argument that science and common sense are inseparable is refuted. The controversy is made analogous to that between Wittgenstein and Moore, and it is argued that there is the possibility of absolute knowledge unconstrained by the rules of language, and in frequent (though not qecessary) opposition to common sense. Universita di Genova, Italy. (fcs) 79:6321 Magyar, George, 1978. Science and nationalism. Scientia, I I 3(9/12): 867-884. There are claims that science can take on a national character; however, this is not found in some quantitative comparisons of British and French physics. The most nationalism can do is to modify the form (language, citation habits, institutional framework, etc.) of science. Of this, many examples are given. Culham Laboratory, UKAEA Research Group. Abingdon Oxfordshire, U.K. 79:6322 Synge, R. L. M., 1979. Wasteful research in pure and applied science. Interdiscipl. Sci. Rev., 4(2): 98-105. Research has an inherently wasteful side in that its outcome is unknown; thus in retrospect, many experiments will always show themselves to have been comparatively fruitless. Nevertheless, real waste can include research that is unnecessarily repeated, trendy studies that play only to politics or public anxieties, and research motivated to provide 'jobs for the troops.' School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7JT, U.K. (fcs) 79:6323 Todd, A. R., 1979. On the state of science. Interdiscipl. Sci. Rev., 4(2): 93-97. Civilization is indeed again at a turning point (as it was, e.g., during the industrial revolution), but the doomwatchers' predictions need not come true provided the various resource and environmental problems are realistically addressed, in this regard, the scientist must act as advocate as well as
82 !
researcher. The Royal Society, 6 Carlton House Terrace, London S W l Y 5AG, U.K. (fcs) 79:6324 Ziman, John, 1978. Human rights and the polity of science. Bull. atom. Scient., 34(8): ! 9-23. Science cannot exist independent of human values, i.e., independent of politics. Thus debate on the issue should focus on precisely what kind of transactional scientific policy should be worked for and what political goals might be pursued. A starting point for these protocols is already codified in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. University of Bristol. (fcs)
17. Marine policy treaties, etc.
and law, leases, 79:6325
Young, Elizabeth, 1978. Law of the Sea: an arms control issue. Bull. atom. Scient., 34(9): 53-56. U N C L O S !II is viewed as an arms control issue of the first order, since the question of enforcement of treaty agreements ultimately comes down to a matter of armed force. Loopholes and pitfalls in the most recent Informal Composite Negotiating Text (the fourth generation of such texts) include the unforbidden engagement by a nation in naval militarv exercises of a very broad nature within another state's Exclusive Economic Zone (usually 3-200 n.mi. offshore) as long as it has no economic purpose and does not affect the coastal state's economic activities. However, UNCLOS's ongoing, unconcluded activities may indeed provide the means by which agreement can be reached: a continuing metamorphosis of consensus by member states through an indefinite number of negotiating texts, and the institutionalization of U N C L O S as a U.N. family member with authority to regulate sea use through existing states' governments. London, England. (smf)
18. Waste disposal and pollution 79:6326 Eagle, R. A., P. A. Hardiman, M. G. Norton and R. S. Nunny, 1978. The field assessment of effects of dumping wastes at sea. 3. A survey of the sewage sludge disposal area in Lyme Bay
[England]. Fish. Res. tech. Rept, Agric. Fish. Fd, Gt Br., 49:22 pp.
Minist.
Two surveys were undertaken in Lyme Bay (October 1975, July 1976) to acquire physical, chemical and biological baseline data; to identify dispersal routes o f dumped waste; to determine physico-chemical alterations attributable to sludge dumping; and to