Re: Royal Society Endorses Immediate Green OA Self-Archiving

[Joseph Esposito <espositoj@gmail.com>]

No comment about the Royal Society's practices, but perhaps a 
listmember can assist in the origin of the phrase "the side of 
the angels."  My understanding is that the phrase was uttered by 
Benjamin Disraeli in a speech in which he challenged Darwin's 
theory (law?) of evolution.  To be on the side of the angels was 
to oppose the idea that people descended from apes.  To be on the 
side of the angels thus means to oppose science.

If I have my history wrong, I would like to be corrected.

If I am correct, however, it would be more appropriate for 
Professor Harnad to say that the Royal Society was on the side of 
the apes.

Joe Esposito

On Mon, Jun 28, 2010 at 8:14 PM, Stevan Harnad <amsciforum@gmail.com> wrote:
> ** Cross-Posted **
>
> The Royal Society is now squarely on the side of the angels
> again,where it belonged all along, historically.
>
> With much gratitude to Stuart Taylor, from the research community
> and posterity!
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: Taylor, Stuart stuart.taylor-- royalsociety.org
> Date: Mon, Jun 28, 2010 at 10:02 AM
> Subject: RE: Confidential: No CCs or BCCs
> To: harnad -- ecs.soton.ac.uk
>
> Stevan
>
> I have, today, removed the embargo on authors posting accepted
> manuscripts (post-prints) in repositories. I shall contact SHERPA
> to ask them to change us back to "green".
>
> In the meantime, do feel free to tell your various communities!
>
> Thank you for your help with all this.
>
> Best wishes
> Stuart
>
> Dr Stuart Taylor
> Head of Publishing
> The Royal Society
>
>