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Rich conversation. I hope y'all won't object to a poor scientist reappearing in it? I do indeed think, as per David's last, that a touchstone of "medium range inferences" is an essential element of good education, both in the sciences and in the humanities. I also think its worth talking a bit more about whether students "need to feel they have to grasp one thing before they can grasp multiple things." Maybe Babel is not only a cultural norm/desideratum but also more an individual one than we sometimes expect/acknowledge?

Delighted to follow David's suggestion that we center this continuing conversation here at Serendip. Let me further suggest that the conversation is rich enough so that it deserves it own location. I've created one at Education: Between Two Cultures. The hope is that this will not only make it easier to find one another but also facilitate other interested people joining the conversation. See you there.