ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
*****************************************************************************

In response to the comments about science and western religious thought--

Science and its discoveries, like the history of humankind, cannot be seen
as a linear development that grew out of only one culture or religious
tradition.  We have been taught this linear "on the shoulders of giants"
scheme as it is easier to show science as an accretion of knowledge cleanly
from step to step, rather than try to explain it as a messy, grappling,
political set of knowledges.  It is unfortunate that so much of scientific
history is obscured by the victor mentality--that history is the history of
the victor, not the victim.  As a former practicing scientist and now an
academic focused on science culture, let's not forget that what we know to
be true about science's development is both richer and more complex than the
simple notion of science proceeding from one culture or religion.  As one
example, look to the role of Islamic medicine as a foundation for our
medical knowledge today.

Mary Nucci
Perpetual student

***********************************************************************
More information about the Informal Science Education Network and the
Association of Science-Technology Centers may be found at http://www.astc.org.
To remove your e-mail address from the ISEN-ASTC-L list, send the
message  SIGNOFF ISEN-ASTC-L in the BODY of a message to
[log in to unmask]