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Location: Chemistry/Physics Building, MUN
Time: 8:00 pm
Present: 28
1. Fred's Introduction. John Carter on Carl Popper.
2. John Carter's Talk. "Carl Popper, the Useful Philosopher." (1904-c.1996) Mr. Carter's first introduction to logic (or the lack of it) occurred in 1948 at the Colonial Building. His first political meetings were in 1952-3 where he met such politicians as Peter Cashin. Throughout his career he was looking for something to tie things together, trying to make sense of things.... In the magazine "Horizon" he came across an article by Brian McGee on "Sir Carl Popper, the Useful Philosopher." Sir Popper was born in Vienna, spent some time in New Zealand and other places and was at the time a Professor of Economics in England. Based on the article in "Horizon" Mr. Carter wrote to Sir Popper. Mr. Carter showed us some of their correspondence over the years and talked a bit about how they met when he was in England.
Sir Popper's ideas in philosophy sprung from some of the ideas of the pre-Socratic Greek philosophers. Xenophenes was one of the first to cast doubt on the idea that one could arrive at certain truth. Popper divided Reality into three parts or worlds: the Real (of which you can never have full knowledge), the Reality of the Senses, and the Reality of Ideas. The last two may get you somewhat closer to an understanding of the first.
Geocentrism, Newton, etc., may have the historical disservice of introducing the idea of too much "certainty". These ideas that were so certain were later supplanted by some of Einstein's ideas. We have a problem of "corroboration vs. truth". Supposition versus a scientific statement (something that cannot be verified, and we take the approach that it is something not yet falsified -- the universe can only answer "no".)
In 1979, Mr. Carter and Leo Barry went to Washington, D.C. for a speech by Carl Popper. Popper demolishes the idea of absolute truth. You cannot say that if something is always found to be true that it must be absolutely true. Hence, science does not provide us with absolute truths. Guesswork is the way knowledge grows, and criticism is how it is controlled. In the realm of errors, prevention is better than cure.
Popper was well known for demolishing Marxism (their scientism). He likened the acquisition of scientific knowledge to the problem of getting out of a dark room full of furniture. Trial and error and creative effort was more Carl Popper's point of view on scientific knowledge. He was the enemy of the Logical Positivists: "what we know for sure". Popper was also concerned with the problems of education, of how students might think more for themselves instead of the idea of knowledge flowing from the teacher down....
Mr. Carter used some of Popper's ideas in his own political career, particularly with the abortion debate. Also, Popper was known as a ferocious debater. His greatest contribution was perhaps the introduction of the the "three worlds" in place of the older idea of "the real versus the ideal".
3. Observations. Bill McCallum: noticed a bright star in Bay D'Espoir late at night. Members thought this was probably Mars with Antares. Jack Cocker: managed to see the ISS through a small break in the clouds. Garry and Fred: Mercury and Venus from different spots on the St. Laurence. It was noted that the Astronomy Course was at the Planetarium last night and there will be (was?) some outdoor viewing.
4. Business. Garry helped with the Astronomy Course. Fred noted we will be putting a bid in for the GA in 2004. Garry will be going to this year's GA so we will get him to speak on behalf of the Centre (eg. bring along a poster and talk about the Butterpot project). Armillary: MUN wants to build a new one? Fred and Brian Payton will check into this. It would seem an easy matter to fix the one they have now (plus it is historical). Star-B-Que is in the planning; we are working on dates with the park, still.
5. Coffee.
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Please send any additions or corrections to:
David Bourgeois: mailto:dbourgeo@nl.rogers.com