Physics Triumph, plus reductionist challenge...

[Tabouli]

Andrew:
> Physics/all engineering is only (so to speak) applied
mathematics. This includes communication theory, of
course. Just as chemistry and biology are only (so to
speak) applied physics.<

Reminiscent of my high school Physics teacher, who once smugly said "When it comes to science, there's Physics and there's stamp collecting"!  At my school Physics had a reputation for being a fiendishly difficult subject, but I rather liked it, despite my natural ability lying more in the verbal department.  I did very badly in my Physics "October test" (=mock final), leading my teacher to express doubt that I would manage an A (over 80%) in the real exams.  The cheek of it!  Little did he know, this was probably the best way to infuriate my lazy 17yo self into action.  **Right**, I snarled, and I studied Physics like a veritable Hermione.  I studied Physics in the back of French classes, I studied Physics in the back of Chemistry and English classes.  I did every past paper I could lay my hands on, collected questions on everything I had trouble with and harassed any available Physics teacher with them whenever I could, I developed beautifully organised notes, I attended extra classes, and at the end of it all I marched up to him with my 87% and a truly monumental SO THERE!  (of course, no doubt all my other subjects suffered as a result, but hey, I proved my point.  Never doubt a determined Tabouli).

I have to add one challenge, here.  As a psychologist, writer and linguist wordy-type, I challenge all you mathematicians and physical scientists out there to reduce human behaviour, and especially language, to applied mathematics!  (see also my main list rant on physics envy, allowing for the fact that my education in physics ended with secondary school.  No way was I keeping up that sort of effort into university!).

Tabouli
(curious to see whether the HPFGU geniuses can do better than generations of despairing cognitive psychologists and behaviourists)


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