Darwin-L Message Log 5:25 (January 1994)

Academic Discussion on the History and Theory of the Historical Sciences

This is one message from the Archives of Darwin-L (1993–1997), a professional discussion group on the history and theory of the historical sciences.

<5:25>From abrown@independent.co.uk  Thu Jan  6 09:00:59 1994

From: Andrew Brown <abrown@independent.co.uk>
Date: Thu, 6 Jan 94 14:16:46 GMT
To: darwin-l@ukanaix.cc.ukans.edu
Subject: Re: DARWIN-L digest 111

I have to say, that as a professional journalist who followed with
interest the great aqautic ape war in this group, I saw nothing to
suggest that Hanna Tuomisto was defending a crank argument.

If I were writing a story about it, I would naturally try to talk to
John Langdon and try to get him to explain himself better. But he did not
to my layman's eye demolish Hanna's substantive points at all.

I admit to a certain bias, since I have been reading Elaine Morgan
since 1972 or thereabouts. But it is my professional skill to
understand other people's professional skills, and on the basis of what
I have so far seen, Hanna has had the better of the argument.

In case anyone is worried, I am not proposing to write about this
group: I just thought this might be of interest in a discussion on why
scientific debates are misunderstood by the outside world.

Andrew Brown
Religious Affairs Correspondent,
The Independent
London
England

Tel (office) 071-956-1682
email: abrown@independent.co.uk