Michael Lewis: Topic 7: Are There Limits to Science?

				Limits to Science?  It was an 
interesting presentation, especially the way they 
tried to link all the past presentations together in 
the final slide show.  I thought there should have 
been a better distinction between strong scientists 
and ironic.  Because many of the questions asked 
relate to those two aspects.
			After reading some of John Horgan's book 
The End of Science, I believe some of the points made 
in his first chapter: "The End of Progress" could 
have been applied in the presentation.  For example, 
he writes:  Scientists will keep developing versatile 
new materials; faster and more sophisticated 
computers; genetic-engineering techniques that make 
us healthier, stronger, longer-lived; perhaps even 
fusion reactors that provide cheap energy with few 
environmental side effects.  The question is, will 
these advances in applied science bring about any 
surprises, any revolutionary shifts in our basic 
knowledge? ... Probably not. (pg. 17)"
			In effect he argues that we've made all 
the major discoveries in our quest for knowledge and 
truth, and is rather pessimistic about how we'll fare 
in the future.  However, I thought the group did a 
great job at looking how limits should and could be 
catagorized, specifically, I though Seth's 
presentation was especially relevant and easy to 
understand.  
			The counterpoints that Wilson and Tim did 
between the big bang/Darwin and Star Trek technology 
was an interesting portion that was well presented, 
however I got lost as to some of the complexities of 
the Anthropology/Archeaology section.  All in all, 
the group did a good job with a broad and diffulcult 
subject, and concluded nicely with the slide show.