Joe Schwartz makes plain that great moments of individual creativity - the work of Galileo and Newton, Einstein figuring out relativity - must in fact be viewed as part of a social context. Yet in the last 100 years science has progressively alienated itself from the rest of culture, to the point where it is not only a mystery to most, but actually operating in an increasingly dangerous void. Choosing a number of significant "moments" from 17th-century Florence (Galileo) to Cold Spring Harbour, USA in 1946 (molecular ...
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Joe Schwartz makes plain that great moments of individual creativity - the work of Galileo and Newton, Einstein figuring out relativity - must in fact be viewed as part of a social context. Yet in the last 100 years science has progressively alienated itself from the rest of culture, to the point where it is not only a mystery to most, but actually operating in an increasingly dangerous void. Choosing a number of significant "moments" from 17th-century Florence (Galileo) to Cold Spring Harbour, USA in 1946 (molecular biology), Schwartz ventures to act as a sort of critic of science, showing famous advances in a new light. Galileo invents a mathematical language for physical description, thus protecting himself from the Church; Einstein's relativity theory arises from the Industrial Revolution; the bomb-making physicists of Los Alamos, vulnerable from their background in inter-war Europe, are manipulated by the American military; AIDS researchers, caught up in the traditions of molecular biology, are locked into a pattern of investigation that may well be perilously misguided; physicists enchanted with numbers lose the capacity to understand why the numbers work and as a result have come up with no new ideas since the 1920s. The author is a physicist who has also written "Einstein For Beginners".
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Seller's Description:
This is an ex-library book and may have the usual library/used-book markings inside. This book has hardback covers. In good all round condition. Dust jacket in good condition. Please note the Image in this listing is a stock photo and may not match the covers of the actual item, 600grams, ISBN: 9780224035408.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
This is an ex-library book and may have the usual library/used-book markings inside. This book has hardback covers. In good all round condition. Please note the Image in this listing is a stock photo and may not match the covers of the actual item, 600grams, ISBN: 0224035401.
