Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id NAA25801 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk); Wed, 20 Mar 2002 13:09:49 GMT Message-ID: <570E2BEE7BC5A34684EE5914FCFC368C10FBCB@fillan.stir.ac.uk> From: Vincent Campbell <v.p.campbell@stir.ac.uk> To: "'memetics@mmu.ac.uk'" <memetics@mmu.ac.uk> Subject: RE: FW: MD Dawkins on quantum/mysticism convergence Date: Wed, 20 Mar 2002 13:04:19 -0000 X-Mailer: Internet Mail Service (5.5.2653.19) Content-Type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1" X-Filter-Info: UoS MailScan 0.1 [D 1] Sender: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
>>> I don't think it does anyone any good to complain about writers
not
>>> using
>>> scientific terms with the same rigor they are used in scientific
>>> publications. You have to fit the words to the purpose and the
audience
>>> you
>>> are writing for.>
>>>
> >> As longer term list member will know, as a bit of a definitional
> >> pedant, I couldn't really agree here.
>
<What about people who think and believe they do understand?
> Would you talk to first year undergrads in the same terms as third year?
> It doesn't do much good to complain if no one pays attention.
> That said, i'm not against pedantry wherever possible.>
>
Fair point. To be honest, when teaching I try to avoid using
jargon, or try and de-mystify it for first year students a little, but yeah,
with students in their final year I'd probably expect them to be familiar
with at least some of the jargon in the field.
What I would also say, though, is that in memetics where people from
lots of different disciplines are interested and contributing ideas etc.
from their own disciplines, consensus over definitions becomes particularly
important, if very difficult. I must admit that a lot of the articles that
appear in the journal go whoosh over my head as they apply models and
methods that I've never come across before, and don't understand, even
though I'm sure many of them are basic methods used in those authors'
fields.
I was going to say something else, but got interrupted by a seminar,
and have forgotten what it was...
Vincent
-- The University of Stirling is a university established in Scotland by charter at Stirling, FK9 4LA. Privileged/Confidential Information may be contained in this message. If you are not the addressee indicated in this message (or responsible for delivery of the message to such person), you may not disclose, copy or deliver this message to anyone and any action taken or omitted to be taken in reliance on it, is prohibited and may be unlawful. In such case, you should destroy this message and kindly notify the sender by reply email. Please advise immediately if you or your employer do not consent to Internet email for messages of this kind. Opinions, conclusions and other information in this message that do not relate to the official business of the University of Stirling shall be understood as neither given nor endorsed by it.=============================================================== This was distributed via the memetics list associated with the Journal of Memetics - Evolutionary Models of Information Transmission For information about the journal and the list (e.g. unsubscribing) see: http://www.cpm.mmu.ac.uk/jom-emit
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Wed Mar 20 2002 - 13:20:31 GMT