Oh why?Can time by cyclic? Can my colleague "Darren" show up once for a departmental meeting on time, so we don't have to sit there and rehash old arguments instead of firing up new ones?
Are there laws of nature? Are my eyes really getting weaker each year, or are students just getting more fuzzy?
Why does Earth have the necessary elements for human life? Why does my colleague "Rachel" think I want to hear about her daughter's ovarian cysts?
Does philosophy have to address science? Does my Dean have to wear Birkenstocks? Ever?
Why is there evil in the world? Why is he the Dean of Admissions?
Lovin' you, Kimmie...
ReplyDeleteLast line cracked me up. We have the same admissions dean.
The last line is, indeed, the best (but I love the whole veering ride from the philosophical to the specific and back again).
DeleteMe three.
DeleteI don't know which set of questions is more difficult to answer.
ReplyDeleteTime is indeed cyclic, Kimmie. Darren still won't show up on time unless you have a cattle prod, or better, a branding iron.
ReplyDeleteThere are laws of nature. Students are indeed getting fuzzier each year.
If Earth didn't have the elements necessary for human life, we wouldn't be here to talk about it. If you want more than a tautology for this, let's just say that essentially all elements heavier than helium are cooked up in stars. Although we do understand nuclear astrophysics well enough to account for the abundances of elements up to about A = 60 (in other words, most of the elements necessary for human life) in the solar neighborhood, many of the particulars and what about heavier elements still aren't known (or in other words, are left open as exercises to the student). Who knows what Rachel thinks: as SETI researchers should tell you, never try to second-guess an alien intelligence.
As far as philosophy and science go, never yell "Feyerabend" in a crowded auditorium. Your Dean does not have to wear Birkenstocks or Tiddies, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever.
This is fun. Thanks for asking these great questions!
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Delete"Never yell Feyerabend in a crowded theater" is fantastic.
DeleteThe question of why there is evil in the world and why he is the Dean of Admissions is commonly known as "theidiocy," I think.
ReplyDeleteThat one beats yelling Feyerabend in a crowded theater. Not by much, though.
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