Philosophy

John W. Burgeson (73531.1501@compuserve.com)
10 May 96 12:07:29 EDT

Bill Hamilton wrote: "When I was an undergraduate, engineers weren't required to
take _any_
philosophy. I ended up taking one course -- symbolic logic -- which was
useful but not a substitute for a real introduction to philosophy.
Sometimes I hear scientists claiming that they don't need to worry about
philosophy since they are dealing with hard data. But the truth is they
are applying a philosophy which they have -- to paraphrase Francis
Schaeffer -- caught like most people catch the measles. Not teaching
philosphy does not result in philosophy-free practitioners. It results in
practitioners who practice a philosophy they are only dimly aware of."

I'll echo that story. At Carnegie Tech in the early 50s we included in our
"base" courses some of the philosophical ideas -- I remember reading Descarte's
DISCOURSE ON REASON & Tawney's RELIGION AND THE RISE OF CAPITALISM, among other
books. Yet I never heard of "Plato's caves" until many years later -- certainly
an omission! Recently I've returned to college to pick up "Intro to Philosophy"
and "Ethics," both of which seem to have filled in some foundation stones that I
wish had been filled 40 years ago!

Bill -- your are "right on" when you say " It results in
practitioners who practice a philosophy they are only dimly aware of."

Burgy