The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1957-01-25

w.
People day like exactness in everything They
admire precision They upon We ater ourselves
that we have outgrown the era OF In thought and In
indeed unapprecave of the sterling qualities of
cestor cannot that they were smart we are
Nor as exact and accurate
therefore the more surprising to find scientific
enlightened age vertabe vagueness and ndenenes
ourishng unchecked and even unrebuked Perhaps f
statements and statistics introduced by phrases
estimated >" and Experts tell us
surely in scientific age of basic Importance to
know what estimate what method used by the
estimating agency qualification such agency
making estimate general reading lstenng
public seldom hears of such things The public must appears
be satisfied with the of the phrase itself 1T is
estimated -
BY way of illustration pause here to cite instance
minute the illustrative is found "I is
estimated review that there % million BIZ
cycles United States Another item from the
Figures show that the brides today from
10 to 81 while the marriage for men approx
mate 20 Figures show ndeed What gures Whose figures?
There be approximate and exactne in these
statements there is only in the authority back Of
them We are apparently to suppose with no snow OF evidence
that careful and reliable fellow has been going around
counting bicycles and boheng brides about their though
they would give the right answerl
When we read-s when do we not?-the words Experts
tell obviously to accept testimony without
knowing anything about the witnesses and their claims
confidence We do not know who they do actually
know they have right the of expert But with right
or without right it seems that the very name expert m T lends
name in Richard III, - is "a tower of strength
Yet mere curiosity alone the bugaboo science
prompts person ask who those experts are that tell us so
much in their brisk and curt We should like to know
where these knowing lads got their credentials seems wrong
scientific boys bray about their science
then expect to take their unsupported word on faith
Indeed the whole business of the modern worship
of science islke kind of Worship matter of faith
Rather science worship upon credui, employ
less graceful word gulbty Real science know
b1e The
takes his word for things degeneraes into sciensm and
consists in unouesoning accepace of anything that called
nexpert testimony experts advertising
dodge which cites numbers and statistics show of science
to dubious claims Thus told with much impressveness
that Substance
lent SA6 will destroy $50 of the bacteria which odor
or bathubrng blemishes of the skin Notice the sharpness
the accuracy that percentage exactly $50 Indeed sometimes
closer 994% But figures do not
reflect accurate knowledge about who makes the
figures when where figures made with
justification The thing looks precise needepoint but
try press point disappears into haystack of vague
and ndefinteness.
You hear that Substance Containing sY4o) has been
proved by doctors Mnname patients hitherto unheard
of and by Independent testing laboratory address unknown
be of 87q6 premature more
thing looks accurate and scientific But boil down and what
have you? You have somewhat exavagant claim completely
unsupported by anything resembling sound evidence
Advertisers unlike the busy bee who bicycles
brides something And proof of the pud
ding in the eating might suppose that advertiser
would merely his the buyer Judge
quality But there is lurking unsuspected each of
thing known aesresstance our grandfathers called
dislike for being fmflammed and this be
by the special pleading of the advertiser And he pleads
ne into realms poeca and imaginative leaving the clear
light of science and entering the seductive land
and fog could it be the wonderful worrrrd AeroDy
namcs?)
II the prosaic suited for science exactness
Il don't care for those sdeboards your
the salesman adverse him they are fins
wings, not sdeboardS, and they windswep Science
es vagueness takes ove the customer made to feel Tin
foggy and indefinite wa that he would look ridiculous
indeed he were to the highway in without
windwept end is estimated that 81 every 100
purchasers choose fins Experts that these fins
wind pncurs and thus take the bounce rough
road.
Grandpa nice but gullble had advantages
He could be fooled and taken Not brethren;
of the scientific age. We like facts clearly proved!
integrity of the human person. her day June 10th
including the body carry Gin. short for eorg;n. r
vrlapv for tLn h,r.n