are studied by competing viewpoints, schools of thought, intellectual fads, opposing theories, and opposing authorities. And those paradigms change through time, and across borders and idfeologies. Oh sure you can discuss them, you can even have useful, stimulating discussions. But its not science. Its not even engineering. Its more like literary criticism.

I'm sure some people believe Homer was superior to Shakespeare, or Dante better than
Cervantes. I'm sure they can come up with all kinds of footnotes to prove their point as well. But its all angels dancing on the head of a pin. Those questions don't have valid answers because they are not valid questions.

You know its true, but you don't dare admit it. Because without that illusion of icy logic, you're nothing. Your whole intellectual universe resolves to nothing.

Stick to spacecraft design, TB. At least there, you have an objective criterion of success. Or instead of talking about the glories of capitalism, you could actually start a business, sell a useful product, meet a payroll.