Open enquiry, discussion and debate

A thought about SCIY by Kim on Sat 02 Dec 2006 01:43 AM PST | FROM: Thoughts and Aphorisms, by Sri Aurobindo PUBLISHED BY: Sri Aurobindo Ashram Trust COPYRIGHT: 2000 PAGES 25-26

"151. A man came to a scientist and wished to be instructed; this instructor showed him the revelations of the microscope & telescope, but the man laughed and said, "These are obviously hallucinations inflicted on the eye by the glass which you use as a medium; I will not believe till you show these wonders to my naked seeing." Then the scientist proved to him by many collateral facts & experiments the reliability of his knowledge but the man laughed again & said, "What you term proofs, I term coincidences, the number of coincidences does not constitute proof; as for your experiments, they are obviously effected under abnormal conditions & constitute a sort of insanity of Nature." When confronted with the results of mathematics, he was angry & cried out, "This is obviously imposture, gibberish & superstition; will you try to make me believe that these absurd cabalistic figures have any real force & meaning?" Then the scientist drove him out as a hopeless imbecile; for he did not recognise his own system of denials and his own methods of negative reasoning. If we wish to refuse an impartial & openminded enquiry, we can always find the most respectable polysyllables to cover our refusal or impose tests & conditions which stultify the enquiry. ..."

Reading the above words, I am reminded of how much I appreciate the postings here on SCIY and the attitude of open enquiry, discussion and debate, out of which those who follow may become more enlivened, educated, enriched, entertained and aware, challenged to stretch understanding & knowledge beyond what was previously known. This webzine is unique, an offering to the commerce of collective memory and to an evolution which resonates beyond the boundaries of the virtual zocalo. Everything grows in this fertile place. Thanks to all for such "proofs" for my own "naked seeing." ~ Kim