At 16:58 08/09/2005, you wrote:
>Most excellent list members,
>
>I make a humble request for the sole purpose of satiating my own
>curiosity. Please respond to the following, brief survey:
>
>1) Do you consider yourself a linguist?
Yes (amateur)
>2) Given only the following labels, which best describes linguistics
>as a discipline for you? (a) a scientific discipline (b) a philosophical
>discipline.
b)
>3) Given only the following definitions, which comes closest to
>describing the purpose of linguistics for you? (a) learning to speak many
>languages. (b) learning the structures of languages. (c) learning how
>language works in the human mind. (d) defining and cataloging languages.
>(e) defining language at large. (e) the humanistic study of language and
>literature.
e)
>4) Do you consider yourself a scientist?
Yes (professional - physicist/engineer)
>5) Given only the following definitions, which comes closest to
>describing the purpose of science for you? (a) the search for truth. (b)
>use of the scientific method to create theories by proving or disproving
>hypotheses (c) the process of discovering natural laws.
b)
>6) Do you consider yourself a philosopher?
Yes
>7) Given only the following definitions, which comes closest to
>describing the purpose of philosophy for you? (a) the search for truth.
>(b) the pursuit of wisdom by intellectual means and moral self-discipline.
>(c) the study of the nature of reality based on logical reasoning rather
>than empirical methods. (d) a critical analysis of fundamental assumptions
>or beliefs. (e) a discipline comprising logic, ethics, aesthetics,
>metaphysics, and epistemology.
b) or e)
Pete Bleackley