Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine November 1981 [antikvár]

EDITORIAL: WATCH OUT! by Isaac Asimovart: Frank Kelly FreasA few issues back I mentioned, in an editorial, that a woman had cancelled her subscription because I was a "humanist." I was rather amused at that. I was wrong, for there was nothing amusing in it at all. Let me explain why.There is something in this world we call "modern science." It isn't terribly modern anymore since it is something like 400 years old. Nevertheless, that is young compared to the number of years in which humanity has indulged in mjrthology or art or trade or agriculture or any of myriads of different human activities. Modern science is an intellectual baby in comparison.And it's our baby. It's the particular enthusiasm of science fiction. The word is in the very name of our field, and science fiction is inconceivable without science.The science-fiction writer doesn't have to immerse himself in science when engaging in his profession; he doesn't even have to mention it very much. Nor does he have to approve of every aspect of the social consequences of science or, for that matter, of any of them. He can be savagely satirical about science and depict a future in which the Earth is badly damaged or utterly destroyed through the agency of science.What he cannot do, however, is to pretend that science is erroneous in basis, that scientific conclusions are worthless, that the scientific method is invalid. If he does, his writings become fantasy.And is there anyone who casts doubt upon the validity of science? Perhaps the usefulness or desirability of science may be in dispute, but surely not its validity.Not so. There exists in the world a species of thinkers (if I may use that particular noun in this connection) who call themselves "scientific creationists" and who insist on accepting the literal words of the Bible.For tactical reasons, they don't mention the Bible in their official 6ISAAC ASIMOV