October 13.

Mr Lenagh calls my description of the present dismal state of Nothern

Ireland ''unworthy of The Herald,'' (October 13). He is doubtless right

that I am unworthy to appear in the same august organ as John Macleod

and Jack McLean and he is entitled to nit-pick about the names people

give to Northern Ireland.

I don't suppose telling the UDA and UVF that they must change their

names will alter their murderous campaign one dead body, but he can

suggest it if he likes. What he cannot do is make anything of my not

having condemned violence.

I am an old-fashioned academic who believes that what the scholar can

usefully contribute to the discussion of any contentious and contested

issue is dispassionate, accurate, informed, and insightful description

and explanation.

That contribution is not helped by the intrusion of personal political

preferences, moral standards, or ethical beliefs, no matter how

uncontroversial, popular, or fashionable they may be.

Just as I have a professional obligation to teach my sociology of

religion course without intruding my own religious preferences, I have a

duty to write about Northern Ireland without expressing my own personal

feelings.

I know it is the fashion these days to deride detachment but I hold to

the belief that good social science is ''value neutral.''

My job is to provide to the best of my ability the descriptive and

explanatory material that will allow others (including myself when I

vote) to make their moral, ethical, and political judgments on the firm

grounds of the best available knowledge.

Steve Bruce,

Professor of Sociology,

University of Aberdeen.