Letter: Art, science and stupidity

Sir: Will Self is right ("Art, science and Self abuse", 24 May) to chide Lewis Wolpert for his elitist view of science and disparagement of common sense.

I vividly remember from last year, when a learned professor came to stay for a while, coming down to breakfast one morning only to find him poised over a two-litre carton of milk on its side and about to sever the cap with the bread knife. Having let out an expletive, I grasped the carton and to his utter amazement proceeded to remove the plastic tab and unscrew the cap. The house still bears the scars of other incidents with a less happy outcome, but which serve as a reminder of just how stupid clever people can be.

Fr DOMINIC KIRKHAM

Manchester