ARMS-D-Request@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU (Moderator) (05/23/86)
Arms-Discussion Digest Thursday, May 22, 1986 7:43PM Volume 6, Issue 87 Today's Topics: Stanford SDI Debate: Delivery Technique vs. Information Content ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: Stanford SDI Debate: Delivery Technique vs. Information Content Date: 22 May 86 10:29:35 PDT (Thu) From: crummer@aerospace.ARPA At last Tuesday's CPSR meeting at UCLA the Stanford SDI debate was shown. The participants were: Richard Garwin & David Parnas (anti) and a Maj. Worden & Prof. Lipton (pro). The moderator was Marvin Goldberger. The battle was between those interested in a serious technological discussion (the anti's in my view) and those who already know the answers, since they were told what they are, and are only interested in pursuading people to believe them. It appears, for instance, that Prof. Lipton found it necessary to suspend his UNDERSTANDING of the properties of systems in order to formulate his argument. (It's one thing to suspend belief but another altogether to suspend understanding!) Maj. Dr. Worden came across somewhat colder. For him it was sufficient to state his case confidently, "from strength", and from the DoD position of authority. His 20-minute presentation would make an interesting week's study in a graduate rhetoric class, as an example of slick, upscale, hi-tech propaganda. The videotape is 3 hours long but well worth the time spent to watch it. I am trying to acquire a copy of the videotape so contact me (crummer@aerospace) if you are interested. --Charlie ------------------------------ End of Arms-Discussion Digest *****************************