Máistir Nádúraí: Quote of the Day

8.18.2022

Quote of the Day

"Science starts from a position of doubt, skepticism, or even distrust. If there were not doubt or skepticism about a phenomenon ― if we thought we understood it thoroughly already ― what would be the point of further study? Skepticism means, nothing more and nothing less, that we will not accept a bit of information into the corpus of 'knowledge' until it has passed through the tests of reason. It does not mean that we can never know anything or that we must always doubt ourselves (that is one of the greatest fallacies about science and reason in general) but only that we have standards for acceptance and that no fact or theory gains admittance into the 'canon' until it meets those standards. Science is 'Agnostic' in Huxley's original sense of the word ― not that knowledge is impossible (if we really thought that, there would be no point in science) but that knowledge is not knowledge until it is sufficiently justified by evidence and logic."

― David Eller

Bio:

Mike McDowell has been documenting southern Wisconsin’s flora and fauna since 1987 and began leading field trips in 2002. Prolific at Pheasant Branch Conservancy, other highlighted natural areas include Pope Farm Conservancy, Spring Green Preserve, and the Baraboo Hills. His nature photography has appeared in various publications, newspapers, magazines and was even featured on a Wisconsin Endangered Resources license plate, a Capital Brewery beer label, and a National Geographic publication. He began journaling nature observations on this blog in 2005. He's the recipient of the 2012 Bronze Passenger Pigeon Award from the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology, presented to individuals who have made outstanding contributions in their local communities or state to promote the field of ornithology. He was a finalist in Swarovski’s Digiscoper of the Year photography contest several times. His other interests include insect macro-photography (especially tiger beetles, treehoppers, and robber flies), fossil collecting, amateur astronomy, botany, natural history, and marksmanship with long-range firearms. Once a gigging musician, collecting Fender Stratocasters is a recently revived interest—most prized being a 1957 Vintage Custom 'Mary Kaye' White Blonde. A former IT Professional, he's spent the last 24 years employed in the sport optics industry and has more binoculars than you.