> Physicists and astrophysicists in particular seem to
> have a passion for writing the results and
> implications of their work in book length form for
> general audiences.
>
> I've always been puzzled by the insistence of some who
> work with political ideas or economics or any of the
> related areas that the monstrously deep nature of the
> subject prevents them from writing clearly or, more
> commonly, that they are writing clearly even though it
> is obvious they're not.
See, the difference is that physics is, for the most part, an empirical science whereas most of social and political sciences are not. In empirical science, specialist jargon serves as a mere shortcut for specialists to communicate about their work, but is not necessary for describing and explicating the empirical results.
For non-empirical efforts that want to pass for science, however, specialist jargon is an artifice that creates the illusion of being "scientific." Since these efforts either have no empirical meaning or their empirical meaning is so trivial that would be indistinguishable from common sense if explained plainly - the difficult to understand jargon is the only way to create the aura of "expertise" for the producers of such "knowledge." Hence the proliferation of dense prose, Greek symbols, complex equations, cryptic phrases, and obscure graphics in the so-called social and political "sciences." The producers of these texts are charlatans selling themselves as "experts" and demanding commensurate respect and salary rather than producing empirical science.
Hard and Negris' _Empire_ is a case in point. The book contents can be explained in a 300 word essay in a clear an easy to follow manner, as Doug's article in the Nation demonstrates. But that would not travel very far in the pomo circles - so the authors bloated that 300 word essay with incomprehensible jargon, names dropping and obscure references that make the pomo crowd salivate but also make the book unreadable for anyone else.
This is why reading most of what is nowadays being published as social and political science is mostly a conspicuous consumption of intellectual commodity akin to buying trendy clothes and other "cool" merchandise - good for showing off and vanity trips, but otherwise a waste of time.
Wojtek