i can only let your defense of science and scientists stand Kyle. i share your sentiments.

that aside i thought the quote contained much that complimented the earlier thread we were discussing. especially these lines:

"At issue is the fact that any explanation of anything is essentially a made up story which fits the facts." ...
"I am myself fairly sure that the actual number of possible explanations (each of which entirely fit the all the facts) is probably infinite."

where in we were discussing how "fashionable" perpectives (such as the clock work scenerio) seem to crop up in science and the zaney idea of universes that live up to mathematical concepts, those quotes seemed in line.

whats interesting is that there really is nothing so wrong about such ramifications, infact it can lead to pragmatic results and at the very least a sense of understanding nature and what it is that is done when scientist's get about the creative process of theorizing.

regards, tim