Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site umcp-cs.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!harpo!seismo!rlgvax!cvl!umcp-cs!mark From: mark@umcp-cs.UUCP Newsgroups: net.followup Subject: Re: never believe what you read in the popular press about science Message-ID: <1290@umcp-cs.UUCP> Date: Sun, 31-Jul-83 01:36:33 EDT Article-I.D.: umcp-cs.1290 Posted: Sun Jul 31 01:36:33 1983 Date-Received: Mon, 1-Aug-83 05:08:28 EDT References: <1282@fortune.UUCP> Organization: Univ. of Maryland, Computer Science Dept. Lines: 14 The "water is an intoxicant" example is not an example of the scientific method. The scientific method is often characterized by the short-hand slogan: hypothesize and test. That water is an intoxicant is the hypothesis. So far, ok. But the test would be, try ingesting the pure intoxicant and see if the hypothesis holds true. It doesn't, so no nobel prize for this scientist. Hypothesize and test, again and again and again... -- spoken: mark weiser UUCP: {seismo,allegra,brl-bmd}!umcp-cs!mark CSNet: mark@umcp-cs ARPA: mark.umcp-cs@UDel-Relay