From chrsowen@tartarus.uwa.edu.au Tue Jan 28 16:27:07 1997
Date: Mon, 27 Jan 1997 21:45:27 +0800 (WST)
From: Chris Owen <chrsowen@tartarus.uwa.edu.au>
To: jwalsh@u.washington.edu
Subject: something of interest

Copy of article that is very apt in regards 'Sokal Affair' and tangible
evidence of the destructive effect of much cultural relativism.



MAGAZINES & JOURNALS

A glance at the winter issue of "Dissent":
The role of leftist theories in India's "science wars"

The efforts of left-leaning intellectuals to delegitimize
Western science and to elevate traditional or native ways of
thinking have found a sympathetic audience in India,
particularly on the religious right. That worries Meera Nanda, a
graduate student in science at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
In "The Science Wars in India," Ms. Nanda writes that attempts
to democratize science have resulted in some schools'
replacement of standard algebra and calculus textbooks with
Sanskrit verses alleged to be of Vedic origin. "In the name of
national pride, students are being deprived of conceptual tools
that are crucial in solving the real-world mathematical problems
they will encounter as scientists and engineers," writes Ms.
Nanda. She also cites the introduction of history textbooks that
celebrate "all things Hindu" -- including the caste system. She
suggests advocates of "multicultural science" consider the
impact of such thinking on society, especially poor,
disadvantaged ethnic groups and women. "I plead guilty to
believing that modern science is not something to be
deconstructed and overcome," she writes. "It must have an active
role in progressive politics." (The journal may be found at your
library or ordered from the Foundation for the Study of
Independent Social Ideas, [212] 595-3084.)
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