Geoscience Reference
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come from the mere posture of scientific observation. It could come only
from a critique of that posture, an exposure of the limits of scientific author-
ity. Yet Kraus's personal disdain for the masses often made his own notion
of enlightenment seem chimerical. he sneered at the narrow-mindedness
and self-regard of those who cared to report on the behavior of their pets or
the state of their broken vases: “the idiocy that would never have thought
of emerging from its life in private has discovered an opportunity for im-
mortality; banality has been lured out of its hiding place; average humanity
has been hauled out in triumph. A consuming greed to be named has taken
hold of the Mr. Nobodies. thousands besiege the press office, raise their
hands to the miracle of the local department and call: Me too! Me too!”
85
Ultimately, Kraus was as uncertain as any scientist about what could be
expected of the public. the difference was that seismologists were prepared
to find out.
