Darwin-L Message Log 3:19 (November 1993)

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.

Note: Additional publications on evolution and the historical sciences by the Darwin-L list owner are available on SSRN.

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<3:19>From jacobsk@ERE.UMontreal.CA  Tue Nov  2 20:30:05 1993

From: jacobsk@ERE.UMontreal.CA (Jacobs Kenneth)
Subject: Re: Social constructivism & Desmond/Moore biography
To: darwin-l@ukanaix.cc.ukans.edu
Date: Tue, 2 Nov 1993 21:31:28 -0500 (EST)

On 2 November, BDHume wrote:

> Personally I found the Desmond and Moore biography to be a wonderful and
> very human presentation of Darwin.  While I might agree about some of
> the criticisms voiced about invention or descriptions of Darwin's private
> thoughts, I happen to believe that it is blatantly obvious that science
> has ALWAYS been political.  Marx and Nietzsche, for example, immediately
> saw the politics of England in Darwin's descriptions of nature.
>
> Sorry folks, you've got at least one social constructivist lurking in
> your midst.
>
> BDHUME@Indiana.edu
>
> PS:  Facts are still facts, and vaccines work.

	Thank goodness someone jumped in at last.  I find it remarkable that
so many comments have passed thus far without anyone going "GACK!! what do you
mean <<the politicization of science>>?  As though that were something new,
dreamed up by the nefarious radicals (of whichever stripe haunts you).  Back
before Darwin (and Marx and Nietzsche), who defined the system by which the
heavens were monitored, controlled the calendar and, thereby, the timing of
Temple rituals in Babylon.  A fact commented upon at length by Talmudic sages
between 200 & 400CE.  I'd say the politicization of science has been around for
a while.
jacobsk@ere.umontreal.ca
PPS:	We make facts, but we don't make them up.

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