Great post, Jim. I'm sure that Thomas Kuhn would appreciate it as regards
to the similar love feast with "paradigms" from _The Structure of
Scientific Revolution_. I remember reading that powerful little book back
in the early 1970's and find it still useful as a "lens" or tool today.
I think you have it right when you (and Mike Mcmaster) call this "chaos"
stuff mythology or poetry. It doesn't have to be--and certainly isn't in
most cases--science, but it has the necessary beauty, charm, and--dare I
say--strange attractiveness to keep us curious and enthralled as we
explore the possibilities it suggests.
Would it be safe to say that "science" is what is done by "scientists",
but the rest of us can play with the results anyway--especially as long as
we know we are playing?
It does make for a more intriguing journey! Quark, quark!
Tobin Quereau
quereauj@austin.cc.tx.us