Rocket Surgeon
Guest
Re:Art, Criticism, Creation
An argument that still resonates with me...
That he's creatively expressing his imagination my not be to our liking or style but it's not simple criticism nor without value or aristic merit.
An argument that still resonates with me...
Originally posted by Flash of Genius
You have a Ph.D in electronic engineering, is that correct?
Uh, that's correct. I've taught for the past several years...
No, that's fine, sir. Your credentials are already part of the record.
Now, when you said earlier that Mr. Kearns didn't create anything new, could you explain what you meant by that?
Yes. As you can see, Dr. Kearns's basic unit consists of a capacitor a variable resistor and a transistor. Now, these are basic building blocks in electronics. You can find them in any catalog. All Mr. Kearns did was to arrange them in a new pattern, you might say. And that, that's not the same thing as inventing something new, however.
Did Mr. Kearns invent the transistor?
No, sir, he did not.
Did Mr. Kearns invent the capacitor?
Again, no, he did not.
Did Mr. Kearns invent the variable resistor?
No, he did not.
Thank you, Professor.
You may step down, Professor Chapman. We will resume testimony after lunch.
Dr. Kearns, your cross-examination, please.
I have here a book. It's by Charles Dickens. It's called A Tale of Two Cities. Have you, have you ever read this book?
Yes. Read it in high school. Very good book.
Yes, it is. I'd like to read you the first, few words, if I may.
"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness."
Let's start with the first word, "It."
Did Charles Dickens create that word?
No.
No. What about "was"?
No.
"The"?
No.
"Best"?
No.
"Times"?
Look. I got a dictionary here. I haven't checked, but I would guess that every word that's in this book can be found in this dictionary.
Well, I suspect that's probably true.
Okay, so then you agree that there's not, probably a single new word in this book.
Well, I don't know, but that's probably true.
All Charles Dickens did was arrange them into a new pattern, isn't that right?
Well, I admit I haven't, thought about it in that way.
But Dickens did create something new, didn't he? By using words. The only tools that were available to him. Just as almost all inventors in history have had to use the tools that were available to them. Telephones, space satellites
all of these were made from parts that already existed, correct, Professor?Parts that you might buy out of a catalog.
Technically that's true, yes...
That he's creatively expressing his imagination my not be to our liking or style but it's not simple criticism nor without value or aristic merit.