Direction of Science....work in London

[Guest guest]

An interesting exchange of views on Direction of Science....

 

-

" sunderh "

Subject:Direction of Science....work in London

 

 

> Namaste Jay,

>

> In one sense even the search after Truth of the 'hard

> sciences' is a waffle! The end result/goal has to be stated too - eg

> Physical immortality? Perpetual sensory satisfaction? Total control

> of Nature?

>

> Though science can be pretentiously equated with Vedanta,

> 'values' [axiology], a prerequisite for jnana-marga, is notably

> ignored, the result being the Frankenstein that now haunts the planet.

>

> The goal of Vedanta/Spiritual disciplines is stated as

> salvation/liberation/freedom/beatitude [soteriology], and there have

> been innumerable instances of individuals whose sublime lives have

> served as models for humanity.

>

>

> Regards,

>

> Sunder

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~response~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Dear Mahasaya

 

Yes, in a way everything - even this analysis - can be termed as

a waffle but there is a degree involved which distinguishes

the 'hard sciences' from the 'soft sciences'.

 

Some soft sciences like the 'social sciences' are indirectly invoking

spiritual elements but they are introduced as 'a priory' requirements

within their own frameworks and they will not allow these terms to

be called 'spiritual'. I will deliberately give a very simplistic example

to show up this bias. No biological science has given a valid reason

- why we should care for other living things. This may appear trivial but

the answer does not come naturally out of the biological findings.

The answer is introduced as 'a priory'. (This is how this issue

would be resolved by social sciences: " Surely there is no question

of why do good to other living things. You are living, don't you like good

things to happen to you? By extending this idea of doing good to others

you are going to reap the indirect benefit of good things happening to you.

See.. how good it sounds without reference to anything spiritual?).

 

I am deliberately using this simplistic example to show how

'a priory' enters into the soft sciences and manages to displace

anything that even remotely can be termed as 'spiritual' entering

this field. This is why 'soft sciences' will consider usage

of 'spiritual' terms as just re-naming their own 'a priory' concepts.

Not worth bothering with....... they will tell us. : )

 

There is a marked difference when we deal with a hard science like

Physics. Here the demarcation lines are very sharp. This

pretentious science : ) of today is attempting to peer into the nature

of reality, and is finding that things are seriously missing and admits

that the things missing 'are not and cannot be material'. This is the

adamantine conclusion. This is not a temporary hitch, neither is this

limitation of ability or equipment -- This problem is at the heart of

reality. What are we dealing with? The ancient concepts borrowed

from the Greek thinkers to make sense of this world fall apart.

Where do you think the answer lies?

 

The ball is in our court.... should I not pick it up and run?

 

: )

jay

Vivekananda Centre London