Re: "Hard" science and "soft" science...

[Leo Caves <***>]

Judith - to just pick up on one aspect of your post - which happens to 
link in to another recent thread on the list.

Perhaps many of you know the book "The Third Culture" by John Brockman 
- the title reflecting by C.P. Snow's observation of the apparently 
separate cultures of "cultural" intellectuals and scientists.
I like the book because it records interviews with interesting thinkers 
on interesting topics (despite being ~10 years old - its still got a 
lot of good stuff on "emerging" issues).  What's nice is that comments 
from individuals on other's work/approach are attached to the relevant 
chapters (not as direct responses to the contributions - but just 
comments that came up on separate interviews) - this gives a nice 
snapshot of the different schools and personalities involved.

OK - so, this general thrust continues on the web site www.edge.org.
I note that the "current issue" has a feature on Biocomputation and "A 
Conversation with J. Craig Venter, Ray Kurzweil, Rodney Brooks" - which 
is downloadable movie.

http://www.edge.org/3rd_culture/biocomp05/biocomp05_index.html

Leo