"This is, I take it, an experiment in sheer semantic reasoning?"
"It is more than that," said Barden slowly. "Not only is the reasoning logical when based upon the initial presumption, but I am firm in the belief that the initial presumption is correct."
Dr. Murdoch laughed. "I hope you'll pardon me, Mr. Barden. I'm rude, but it strikes me that you are somewhat similar to the prophet who sneers at the short-range predictions and prefers to tell of things that lie a hundred years in the future. By which I mean that testing out any one of your theories here would require the expenditure of a small fortune. The amount to be spent would be far in excess of any practical laboratory's budget unless some return is expected."
"If the premise proves true, though," said Barden, "the returns would be so great as to warrant any expenditure."
"Agreed," said Murdoch. "Agreed. Just show me proof."
"It is all there."
"Mathematical proof? The only proof of valid mathematics is in the experimental data that agrees. And may I add that when experiment and math do not agree, it is the math that gets changed. As witness Galileo's results with the freely falling bodies."
Barden nodded slowly. "You mean that mathematics alone is no proof."
"Precisely. Figures do not lie but liars can often figure. No offense, Barden. I wouldn't accuse any man of willful lying. But the math is a lie if it is based on a false premise."
"You have no experimental data at all?" asked Harrison.