1996-2009考研英语阅读原文原文答案分离

阅读(1996—2011)

It1saroughworldoutthere.Stepoutsideandyoucouldbreakalegslippingonyourdoormat.Lightupthestoveandyoucouldburndownthehouse.Luckily,ifthedoormatorstovefailedtowarnofcomingdisaster,asuccessfullawsuitmightcompensateyouforyourtroubles.Orsothethinkinghasgonesincetheearly1980s,whenjuriesbeganholdingmorecompaniesliablefortheircustomers1misfortunes.

Feelingthreatened,companiesrespondedbywritingever-longerwarninglabels,tryingtoanticipateeverypossibleaccident.Today,stepladderscarrylabelsseveralincheslongthatwarn,amongotherthings,thatyoumight—surprised!—falloff.Thelabelonachild*sBatmancapecautionsthatthetoy**doesnotenableusertofly.**

Whilewarningsareoftenappropriateandnecessary-thedangersofdruginteractions,forexample—andmanyarerequiredbystateorfederalregulations,itisn*tclearthattheyactuallyprotectthemanufacturersandsellersfromliabilityifacustomerisinjured.About50percentofthecompanieslosewheninjuredcustomerstakethemtocourt.

Nowthetideappearstobeturning.Aspersonalinjuryclaimscontinueasbefore,somecourtsarebeginningtosidewithdefendants,especiallyincaseswhereawarninglabelprobablywouldn*thavechangedanything.InMay,JulieNimmons,presidentofSchuttSportsinIllinois,successfullyfoughtalawsuitinvolvingafootballplayerwhowasparalyzedinagamewhilewearingaSchutthelmet.**We*rereallysorryhehasbecomeparalyzed,buthelmetsaren*tdesignedtopreventthosekindsofinjuries,**saysNimmons.Thejuryagreed

thatthenatureofthegame,notthehelmet,wasthereasonfortheathlete*sinjury.Atthesametime,theJXmericanLawInstitute-agroupofjudges,lawyers,andacademicswhoserecommendationscarrysubstantialweight-issuednewguidelinesfortortlawstatingthatcompaniesneednotwarncustomersofobviousdangersorbombardthemwithalengthylistofpossibleones."Importantinformationcangetburiedinaseaoftrivialities,”saysalawprofessoratCornellLawSchoolwhohelpeddraftthenewguidelines.Ifthemoderateendofthelegalcommunityhasitsway,theinformationonproductsmightactuallybeprovidedforthebenefitofcustomersandnotasprotectionagainstlegalliability.

Whatwerethingslikein1980swhenaccidentshappened?

Customersmightberelievedoftheirdisastersthroughlawsuits.

Injuredcustomerscouldexpectprotectionfromthelegalsystem.

Companieswouldavoidbeingsuedbyprovidingnewwarnings.

Juriestendedtofindfaultwiththecompensationscompaniespromised.

Manufacturersasmentionedinthepassagetendto.

satisfycustomersbywritinglongwarningsonproducts

becomehonestindescribingtheinadequaciesoftheirproducts

makethebestuseoflabelstoavoidlegalliability

feelobligedtoviewcustomers*safetyastheirfirstconcern

ThecaseofSchutthelmetdemonstratedthat.

someinjuryclaimswerenolongersupportedbylaw

helmetswerenotdesignedtopreventinjuries

productlabelswouldeventuallybediscarded

somesportsgamesmightlosepopularitywithathletes

Theauthor*sattitudetowardstheissueseemstobe.

biased

indifferent

puzzling

[D]objective

InthefirstyearorsoofWebbusiness,mostoftheactionhasrevolvedaroundeffortstotaptheconsumermarket.Morerecently,astheWebprovedtobemorethanafashion,companieshavestartedtobuyandsellproductsandserviceswithoneanother.Suchbusiness-to-businesssalesmakesensebecausebusinesspeopletypicallyknowwhatproductthey*relookingfor.

Nonetheless,manycompaniesstillhesitatetousetheWebbecauseofdoubtsaboutitsreliability.nBusinessesneedtofeeltheycantrustthepathwaybetweenthemandthesupplier,nsayssenioranalystBlaneErwinofForresterResearch.Somecompaniesarelimitingtheriskbyconductingonlinetransactionsonlywithestablishedbusinesspartnerswhoaregivenaccesstothecompany1sprivateintranet.

AnothermajorshiftinthemodelforInternetcommerceconcernsthetechnologyavailableformarketing.Untilrecently,Internetmarketingactivitieshavefocusedonstrategiesto"pull"customersintosites.Inthepastyear,however,softwarecompanieshavedevelopedtoolsthatallowcompaniesto"push"informationdirectlyouttoconsumers,transmittingmarketingmessagesdirectlytotargetedcustomers.Mostnotably,thePointcastNetworkusesascreensavertodeliveracontinuallyupdatedstreamofnewsandadvertisementstosubscribers1computermonitors.Subscriberscancustomizetheinformationtheywanttoreceiveandproceeddirectlytoacompany*sWebsite.CompaniessuchasVirtualVineyardsarealreadystartingtousesimilartechnologiestopushmessagestocustomersaboutspecialsales,productofferings,orotherevents.ButpushtechnologyhasearnedthecontemptofmanyWebusers.Onlineculturethinkshighlyofthenotionthatthe

informationflowingontothescreencomestherebyspecificrequest.Oncecommercialpromotionbeginstofillthescreenuninvited,thedistinctionbetweentheWebandtelevisionfades.That*saprospectthathorrifiesNetpurists.

ButitishardlyinevitablethatcompaniesontheWebwillneedtoresorttopushstrategiestomakemoney.TheexamplesofVirtualVineyards,A,andotherpioneersshowthataWebsitesellingtherightkindofproductswiththerightmixofinteractivity,hospitality,andsecuritywillattractonlinecustomers.Andthecostofcomputingpowercontinuestofreefall,whichisagoodsignforanyenterprisesettingupshopinsilicon.Peoplelookingback5or10yearsfromnowmaywellwonderwhysofewcompaniestooktheonlineplunge.

WelearnfromthebeginningofthepassagethatWebbusiness.

hasbeenstrivingtoexpanditsmarket

intendedtofollowafancifulfashion

triedbutinvaintocontrolthemarket

hasbeenboomingforoneyearorso

Speakingoftheonlinetechnologyavailableformarketing,theauthorimpliesthat.

thetechnologyispopularwithmanyWebusers

businesseshavefaithinthereliabilityofonlinetransactions

thereisaradicalchangeinstrategy

itisaccessiblelimitedlytoestablishedpartners

IntheviewofNetpurists,・

thereshouldbenomarketingmessagesinonlineculture

moneymakingshouldbegivenprioritytoontheWeb

theWebshouldbeabletofunctionasthetelevisionset

thereshouldbenoonlinecommercialinformationwithoutrequests

Welearnfromthelastparagraphthat.

pushinginformationontheWebisessentialtoInternetcommerce

interactivity,hospitalityandsecurityareimportanttoonlinecustomers

leadingcompaniesbegantotaketheonlineplungedecadesago

settingupshopsinsiliconisindependentofthecostofcomputingpower

Aninvisibleborderdividesthosearguingforcomputersintheclassroomonthebehalfofstudents*careerprospectsandthosearguingforcomputersintheclassroomforbroaderreasonsofradicaleducationalreform.Veryfewwritersonthesubjecthaveexploredthisdistinction-indeed,contradiction—whichgoestotheheartofwhatiswrongwiththecampaigntoputcomputersintheclassroom.

Aneducationthataimsatgettingastudentacertainkindofjobisatechnicaleducation,justifiedforreasonsradicallydifferentfromwhyeducationisuniversallyrequiredbylaw.Itisnotsimplytoraiseeveryone1sjobprospectsthatallchildrenarelegallyrequiredtoattendschoolintotheirteens.Rather,wehaveacertainconceptionoftheAmericancitizen,acharacterwhoisincompleteifhecannotcompetentlyassesshowhislivelihoodandhappinessareaffectedbythingsoutsideofhimself.Butthiswasnotalwaysthecase;beforeitwaslegallyrequiredforallchildrentoattendschooluntilacertainage,itwaswidelyacceptedthatsomewerejustnotequippedbynaturetopursuethiskindofeducation.Withoptimismcharacteristicofallindustrializedcountries,wecametoacceptthateveryoneisfittobeeducated.Computer-educationadvocatesforsakethisoptimisticnotionforapessimismthatbetraystheirotherwisecheeryoutlook.Bankingontheconfusionbetweeneducationalandvocationalreasonsforbriningcomputersintoschools,computer-edadvocatesoftenemphasizethejobprospectsofgraduatesovertheireducationalachievement.

Therearesomegoodargumentsforatechnicaleducationgiventherightkindofstudent.ManyEuropeanschoolsintroducetheconceptofprofessionaltrainingearlyoninordertomakesurechildrenareproperlyequippedfortheprofessionstheywanttojoin.Itis,however,presumptuoustoinsistthattherewillonlybesomanyjobsforsomanyscientists,somanybusinessmen,somanyaccountants.Besides,thisisunlikelytoproducetheneedednumberofeverykindofprofessionalinacountryaslargeasoursandwheretheeconomyisspreadoversomanystatesandinvolvessomanyinternationalcorporations.

But,forasmallgroupofstudents,professionaltrainingmightbethewaytogosincewe11-deve1opedskills,allotherfactorsbeingequal,canbethedifferencebetweenhavingajobandnot.Ofcourse,thebasicsofusinganycomputerthesedaysareverysimple.Itdoesnottakealifelongacquaintancetopickupvarioussoftwareprograms.Ifonewantedtobecomeacomputerengineer,thatis,ofcourse,anentirelydifferentstory.Basiccomputerskillstake一attheverylongest—acoupleofmonthstolearn.Inanycase,basiccomputerskillsareonlycomplementarytothehostofrealskillsthatarenecessarytobecominganykindofprofessional.Itshouldbeobserved,ofcourse,thatnoschool,vocationalornot,ishelpedbyaconfusionoveritspurpose.

Theauthorthinksthepresentrushtoputcomputersintheclassroomis.

far-reaching

dubiouslyoriented

self-contradictory

radicallyreformatory

Thebeliefthateducationisindispensabletoallchildren.

isindicativeofapessimismisdisguise

cameintobeingalongwiththearrivalofcomputers

isdeeplyrootedinthemindsofcomputer-edadvocates

originatedfromtheoptimisticattitudeofindustrializedcountries

Itcouldbeinferredfromthepassagethatintheauthor*scountrytheEuropeanmodelofprofessionaltrainingis.

dependentuponthestartingageofcandidates

worthtryinginvarioussocialsections

oflittlepracticalvalue

attractivetoeverykindofprofessional

Accordingtotheauthor,basiccomputerskillsshouldbe.

includedasanauxiliarycourseinschool

highlightedinacquisitionofprofessionalqualifications

masteredthroughalife-longcourse

equallyemphasizedbyanyschool,vocationalorotherwise

WhenaScottishresearchteamstartledtheworldbyrevealing3monthsagothatithadclonedanadultsheep,PresidentClintonmovedswiftly.Declaringthathewasopposedtousingthisunusualanimalhusbandrytechniquetoclonehumans,heorderedthatfederalfundsnotbeusedforsuchanexperiment一althoughnoonehadproposedtodoso—andaskedanindependentpanelofexpertschairedbyPrincetonPresidentHaroldShapirotoreportbacktotheWhiteHousein90dayswithrecommendationsforanationalpolicyonhumancloning.Thatgroup-theNationalBioethicsAdvisoryCommission(NBAC)—hasbeenworkingfeverishlytoputitswisdomonpaper,andatameetingon17May,membersagreedonanear-finaldraftoftheirrecommendations.

NBACwillaskthatClinton*s90-daybanonfederalfundsforhumancloningbeextendedindefinitely,andpossiblythatitbemadelaw.ButNBACmembersareplanningtowordtherecommendationnarrowlytoavoidnewrestrictionsonresearchthatinvolvesthecloningofhumanDNAorcells—routineinmolecularbiology.Thepanelhasnotyetreachedagreementonacrucialquestion,however,whethertorecommendlegislationthatwouldmakeitacrimeforprivatefundingtobeusedforhumancloning.

Inadraftprefacetotherecommendations,discussedatthe17Maymeeting,Shapirosuggestedthatthepanelhadfoundabroadconsensusthatitwouldbe"morallyunacceptabletoattempttocreateahumanchildbyadultnuclearcloning."Shapiroexplainedduringthemeetingthatthemoraldoubtstemsmainlyfromfearsabouttherisktothehealthofthechild.Thepaneltheninformallyacceptedseveralgeneralconclusions,althoughsomedetailshavenotbeensettled.

NBACplanstocallforacontinuedbanonfederalgovernmentfundingforanyattempttoclonebodycellnucleitocreateachild.Becausecurrentfederallawalreadyforbidstheuseoffederalfundstocreateembryos(theearlieststageofhumanoffspringbeforebirth)forresearchortoknowinglyendangeranembryo*slife,NBACwillremainsilentonembryoresearch.

NBACmembersalsoindicatedthattheywouldappealtoprivatelyfundedresearchersandclinicsnottotrytoclonehumansbybodycellnucleartransfer.Buttheyweredividedonwhethertogofurtherbycallingforafederallawthatwouldimposeacompletebanonhumancloning.Shapiroandmostmembersfavoredanappealforsuchlegislation,butinaphoneinterview,hesaidthisissuewasstill"upintheair."

Wecanlearnfromthefirstparagraphthat.

federalfundshavebeenusedinaprojecttoclonehumans

theWhiteHouserespondedstronglytothenewsofcloning

NBACwasauthorizedtocontrolthemisuseofcloningtechnique

theWhiteHousehasgotthepanel1srecommendationsoncloning

Thepanelagreedonallofthefollowingexceptthat.

thebanonfederalfundsforhumancloningshouldbemadealaw

thecloningofhumanDNAisnottobeputundermorecontrol

itiscriminaltouseprivatefundingforhumancloning

itwouldbeagainstethicalvaluestocloneahumanbeing

NBACwillleavetheissueofembryoresearchundiscussedbecause

embryoresearchisjustacurrentdevelopmentofcloning

thehealthofthechildisnotthemainconcernofembryoresearch

anembryo1slifewillnotbeendangeredinembryoresearch

theissueisexplicitlystatedandsettledinthelaw

Itcanbeinferredfromthelastparagraphthat.

someNBACmembershesitatetobanhumancloningcompletely

alawbanninghumancloningistobepassedinnotime

privatelyfundedresearcherswillrespondpositivelytoNBAC1sappeal

theissueofhumancloningwillsoonbesettled

Science,inpractice,dependsfarlessontheexperimentsitpreparesthanonthepreparednessofthemindsofthemenwhowatchtheexperiments.SirIsaacNewtonsupposedlydiscoveredgravitythroughthefallofanapple.Appleshadbeenfallinginmanyplacesforcenturiesandthousandsofpeoplehadseenthemfall.ButNewtonforyearshadbeencuriousaboutthecauseoftheorbitalmotionofthemoonandplanets.Whatkepttheminplace?Whydidn11theyfalloutofthesky?Thefactthattheapplefelldowntowardtheearthandnotupintothetreeansweredthequestionhehadbeenaskinghimselfaboutthoselargerfruitsoftheheavens,themoonandtheplanets.

Howmanymenwouldhaveconsideredthepossibilityofanapplefallingupintothetree?Newtondidbecausehewasnottryingtopredictanything.Hewasjustwondering.Hismindwasreadyfortheunpredictable.Unpredicabilityispartoftheessentialnatureofresearch.Ifyoudon*thaveunpredictablethings,youdon'thaveresearch.Scientiststendtoforgetthiswhenwritingtheircutanddriedreportsforthetechnicaljournals,buthistoryisfilledwithexamplesofit.

Intalkingtosomescientists,particularlyyoungerones,youmightgathertheimpressionthattheyfindthe"scientificmethod"asubstituteforimaginativethought.11veattendedresearchconferenceswhereascientisthasbeenaskedwhathethinksabouttheadvisabilityofcontinuingacertainexperiment.Thescientisthasfrowned,lookedatthegraphs,andsaid"thedataarestillinconclusive.""Weknowthat,"themenfromthebudgetofficehavesaid,"butwhatdoyouthink?Isitworthwhilegoingon?Whatdoyouthink

wemightexpect?nThescientisthasbeenshockedathavingevenbeenaskedtospeculate.

Whatthisamountsto,ofcourse,isthatthescientisthasbecomethevictimofhisownwritings.Hehasputforwardunquestionedclaimssoconsistentlythathenotonlybelievesthemhimself,buthasconvincedindustrialandbusinessmanagementthattheyaretrue.Ifexperimentsareplannedandcarriedoutaccordingtoplanasfaithfullyasthereportsinthesciencejournalsindicate,thenitisperfectlylogicalformanagementtoexpectresearchtoproduceresultsmeasurableindollarsandcents.Itisentirelyreasonableforauditorstobelievethatscientistswhoknowexactlywheretheyaregoingandhowtheywillgetthereshouldnotbedistractedbythenecessityofkeepingoneeyeonthecashregisterwhiletheothereyeisonthemicroscope.Nor,ifregularityandconformitytoastandardpatternareasdesirabletothescientistasthewritingofhispaperswouldappeartoreflect,ismanagementtobeblamedfordiscriminatingagainstthe"oddballs"amongresearchersinfavorofmoreconventionalthinkerswho"workwellwiththeteam."

.TheauthorwantstoprovewiththeexampleofIsaacNewtonthat.

inquiringmindsaremoreimportantthanscientificexperiments

scienceadvanceswhenfruitfulresearchesareconducted

scientistsseldomforgettheessentialnatureofresearch

unpredictabilityweighslessthanpredictioninscientificresearch

Theauthorassertsthatscientists.

shouldn1treplace"scientificmethod"withimaginativethought

shouldn*tneglecttospeculateonunpredictablethings

shouldwritemoreconcisereportsfortechnicaljournals

shouldbeconfidentabouttheirresearchfindings

Itseemsthatsomeyoungscientists・

haveakeeninterestinprediction

oftenspeculateonthefuture

thinkhighlyofcreativethinking

stickto"scientificmethod"

Theauthorimpliesthattheresultsofscientificresearch.

maynotbeasprofitableastheyareexpected

canbemeasuredindollarsandcents

relyonconformitytoastandardpattern

aremostlyunderestimatedbymanagement

Fewcreationsofbigtechnologycapturetheimaginationlikegiantdams.Perhapsitishumankind*slongsufferingatthemercyoffloodanddroughtthatmakestheidealofforcingthewaterstodoourbiddingsofascinating.Buttobefascinatedisalso,sometimes,tobeblind.Severalgiantdamprojectsthreatentodomoreharmthangood.

Thelessonfromdamsisthatbigisnotalwaysbeautiful.Itdoesn*thelpthatbuildingabig,powerfuldamhasbecomeasymbolofachievementfornationsandpeoplestrivingtoassertthemselves.Egypt*sleadershipintheArabworldwascementedbytheAswanHighDam.Turkey*sbidforFirstWorldstatusincludesthegiantAtaturkDam.

Butbigdamstendnottoworkasintended.TheAswanDam,forexample,stoppedtheNilefloodingbutdeprivedEgyptofthefertilesiltthatfloodsleft—allinreturnforagiantreservoirofdiseasewhichisnowsofullofsiltthatitbarelygenerateselectricity.

Andyet,themythofcontrollingthewaterspersists.Thisweek,intheheartofcivilizedEurope,SlovaksandHungariansstoppedjustshortofsendinginthetroopsintheircontentionoveradamontheDanube.Thehugecomplexwillprobablyhavealltheusualproblemsofbigdams.ButSlovakiaisbiddingforindependencefromtheCzechs,andnowneedsadamtoproveitself.

Meanwhile,inIndia,theWorldBankhasgiventhego-aheadtotheevenmorewrong-headedNarmadaDam.Andthebankhasdonethiseventhoughitsadvisorssaythedamwillcausehardshipforthepowerlessandenvironmentaldestruction.

Thebenefitsareforthepowerful,buttheyarefarfromguaranteed.

Proper,scientificstudyoftheimpactsofdamsandofthecostandbenefitsofcontrollingwatercanhelptoresolvetheseconflicts.Hydroelectricpowerandfloodcontrolandirrigationarepossiblewithoutbuildingmonsterdams.Butwhenyouaredealingwithmyths,itishardtobeeitherproper,orscientific.ItistimethattheworldlearnedthelessonsofAswan.Youdon'tneedadamtobesaved.

Thethirdsentenceofparagraph1impliesthat.

peoplewouldbehappyiftheyshuttheireyestoreality

theblindcouldbehappierthanthesighted

over-excitedpeopletendtoneglectvitalthings

fascinationmakespeoplelosetheireyesight

Inparagraph5,"thepowerless"probablyrefersto.

areasshortofelectricity

damswithoutpowerstations

poorcountriesaroundIndia

commonpeopleintheNarmadaDamarea

Whatisthemythconcerninggiantdams?

Theybringinmorefertilesoil.

Theyhelpdefendthecountry.

Theystrengtheninternationalties.

Theyhaveuniversalcontrolofthewaters.

Whattheauthortriestosuggestmaybestbeinterpretedas

"It1snousecryingoverspiltmilk"

"Morehaste,lessspeed"

"Lookbeforeyouleap"

[D]"Hewholaughslastlaughsbest"

Well,nogainwithoutpain,theysay.Butwhataboutpainwithoutgain?EverywhereyougoinAmerica,youheartalesofcorporaterevival.Whatishardertoestablishiswhethertheproductivityrevolutionthatbusinessmenassumetheyarepresidingoverisforreal.

Theofficialstatisticsaremildlydiscouraging.Theyshowthat,ifyoulumpmanufacturingandservicestogether,productivityhasgrownonaverageby1.2%since1987.Thatissomewhatfasterthantheaverageduringthepreviousdecade.Andsince1991,productivityhasincreasedbyabout2%ayear,whichismorethantwicethe1978-1987average.Thetroubleisthatpartoftherecentaccelerationisduetotheusualreboundthatoccursatthispointinabusinesscycle,andsoisnotconclusiveevidenceofarevivalintheunderlyingtrend.Thereis,asRobertRubin,thetreasurysecretary,says,andisjunctionnbetweenthemassofbusinessanecdotethatpointstoaleapinproductivityandthepicturereflectedbythestatistics.

Someofthiscanbeeasilyexplained.Newwaysoforganizingtheworkplace—allthatre-engineeringanddownsizing—areonlyonecontributiontotheoverallproductivityofaneconomy,whichisdrivenbymanyotherfactorssuchasjointinvestmentinequipmentandmachinery,newtechnology,andinvestmentineducationandtraining.Moreover,mostofthechangesthatcompaniesmakeareintendedtokeepthemprofitable,andthisneednotalwaysmeanincreasingproductivity:switchingtonewmarketsorimprovingqualitycanmatterjustasmuch.

Twootherexplanationsaremorespeculative.First,someofthebusinessrestructuringofrecentyearsmayhavebeenineptlydone.Second,evenifitwaswelldone,itmayhavespreadmuchlesswidelythanpeoplesuppose.

LeonardSchlesinger,aHarvardacademicandformerchiefexecutiveofAuBongPain,arapidlygrowingchainofbakerycafes,saysthatmuchnre-engineeringnhasbeencrude.Inmanycases,hebelieves,thelossofrevenuehasbeengreaterthanthereductionsincost.Hiscolleague,MichaelBeer,saysthatfartoomanycompanieshaveappliedre-engineeringinamechanisticfashion,choppingoutcostswithoutgivingsufficientthoughttolong-termprofitability.BBDO*sAlRosenshineisblunter.Hedismissesalotoftheworkofre-engineeringconsultantsasmererubbish—"theworstsortofambulance-chasing".

Accordingtotheauthor,theAmericaneconomicsituationis.

notasgoodasitseems

atitsturningpoint

muchbetterthanitseems

neartocompleterecovery

Theofficialstatisticsonproductivitygrowth.

excludetheusualreboundinabusinesscycle

fallshortofbusinessmen*santicipation

meettheexpectationofbusinesspeople

failtoreflectthetruestateofeconomy

Theauthorraisesthequestion"whataboutpainwithoutgain?"because

hequestionsthetruthof"nogainwithoutpain"

hedoesnotthinktheproductivityrevolutionworks

hewondersiftheofficialstatisticsaremisleading

hehasconclusiveevidencefortherevivalofbusinesses

WhichofthefollowingstatementsisNOTmentionedinthepassage?

Radicalreformsareessentialfortheincreaseofproductivity.

Newwaysoforganizingworkplacesmayhelptoincreaseproductivity.

Thereductionofcostsisnotasurewaytogainlong-termprofitability.

Theconsultantsareabunchofgood-for-nothings.

Sciencehaslonghadanuneasyrelationshipwithotheraspectsofculture.ThinkofGalileo1s17th-centurytrialforhisrebellingbeliefbeforetheCatholicChurchorpoetWilliamBlake1sharshremarksagainstthemechanisticworldviewofIsaacNewton.Theschismbetweenscienceandthehumanitieshas,ifanything,deepenedinthiscentury.

Untilrecently,thescientificcommunitywassopowerfulthatitcouldaffordtoignoreitscritics—butnolonger.Asfundingforsciencehasdeclined,scientistshaveattackednanti-scienceninseveralbooks,notablyHigherSuperstition,byPaulR.Gross,abiologistattheUniversityofVirginia,andNormanLevitt,amathematicianatRutgersUniversity;andTheDemon-HauntedWorld,byCarlSaganofCornellUniversity.

Defendersofsciencehavealsovoicedtheirconcernsatmeetingssuchas"TheFlightfromScienceandReason,"heldinNewYorkCityin1995,and"ScienceintheAgeof(Mis)information,"whichassembledlastJunenearBuffalo.

Anti-scienceclearlymeansdifferentthingstodifferentpeople.GrossandLevittfindfaultprimarilywithsociologists,philosophersandotheracademicswhohavequestionedscience1sobjectivity.Saganismoreconcernedwiththosewhobelieveinghosts,creationismandotherphenomenathatcontradictthescientificworldview.

Asurveyofnewsstoriesin1996revealsthattheanti-sciencetaghasbeenattachedtomanyothergroupsaswell,fromauthoritieswhoadvocatedtheeliminationofthelastremainingstocksofsmallpoxvirustoRepublicanswhoadvocateddecreasedfundingforbasicresearch.

FewwoulddisputethatthetermappliestotheUnabomber,whosemanifesto,publishedin1995,scornsscienceandlongsforreturntoapretechnologicalutopia.Butsurelythatdoesnotmeanenvironmentalistsconcernedaboutuncontrolledindustrialgrowthareanti-science,asanessayinUSNews&WorldReportlastMayseemedtosuggest.

Theenvironmenta1ists,inevitably,respondtosuchcritics.Thetrueenemiesofscience,arguesPaulEhrlichofStanfordUniversity,apioneerofenvironmentalstudies,arethosewhoquestiontheevidencesupportingglobalwarming,thedepletionoftheozonelayerandotherconsequencesofindustrialgrowth.

Indeed,someobserversfearthattheanti-scienceepithetisindangerofbecomingmeaningless."Theterm*anti-science1canlumptogethertoomany,quitedifferentthings,"notesHarvardUniversityphilosop