Book Review: Brilliant Blunders by Mario Livio

Science is not as concrete as we believe it to be. What we know today as fact was once only theory. Only through the evaluation of those premises, conclusions, and so called “facts” can society continue to develop its scientific beliefs. Brilliant Blunders highlights those major miscalculations by great scientific thinkers that led to other discoveries and truths even though that was not the scientist’s intention.

Let us consider Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity that proposes objects move in relation to each other in time creating the space-time continuum that still holds true today. He also proposed a concept called dark energy. He later removed the theory calling it a mistake. A problem resulted when other researchers confirmed that it actually exists. NASA currently believes that dark energy constitutes most of our universe and Einstein was right.

Science is on its own continuum of development. Mistakes are rarely accidental and require significant learned skill to make correctly. For example, the incorrect model of DNA proposed by Linus Pauling was wrong but also helped to develop a better model of DNA. The same can be said of Darwin’s Origin of Species. The incorrect models of thinking were leaps in intellectual advancement that helped others to think differently.

Science is about putting forward a hypothesis, model and theory. They are all only explanations that can change over time as new discoveries are found. A hypothesis is tested to create a model and models are used to develop theories. A model is the physical representation of a theory and is used to generate a theory. Sometimes models are derived from a theory to test the validity of that theory.

People propose ideas and concepts and these may not always be correct. However, as they move through the scientific method they also develop affirmations and negations that can be used in other theories. Science is an additive process whereby each study helps lend support or remove support for concepts until a predominant theory takes hold. Blunders are part of that process of learning.

The book helps scientists understand that there is no such thing as a mistake as some of the greatest discoveries in the world are mistakes. Mistakes add to the body of knowledge and this body of knowledge makes its way slowly into the collective intelligence. Such knowledge is then used to advance practical concerns in the business and civilian world. If you want to understand how to make a mistake the right way read this book.

Livio, M. (2013). Brilliant Blunders: From Darwin to Einstein-Colossal Mistakes by Great Scientists that Changed Our Understanding of Life and the Universe. Simon and Schulster, NY. ISBN 9781439192368

Book Review: The Scientists by John Gribbin

The Scientists by John Gribbin will bring you through the eras of science and how the masters lived and worked. He starts during the Renaissance, moves into the Enlightenment Age and then into modern science. It is a great book for those who want to understand how science develops by the building on previous knowledge to create greater understanding of ourselves and the world in which we live. Not all of their lives were easy but each were able to accomplish something that contributes to the body of knowledge. 

The Renaissance 14^th-17^th Century: Starting in Italy it was a time that marked a distinct release of old ways of thinking embedded in the Dark Ages to an exploration of human spirit. The use of observation and science began to create a cultural renaissance throughout Europe that raised their position in the world. Literature, art, diplomacy and science made their way into the lives of the elite.  It was a process fostered by patronage of the Medici family and the conquering of Constantinople by the Turks that brought a whole host of new Greek scholars and Arab science to Europe.

The Renaissance period was marked by Copernicus and the moving earth, Leonard Digges and the telescope and the Thomas Diggs with his concept of the universe. Other great men include Rene Descartes and coordinates, Newton and the laws of motion, and Edmond Halley’s attempt to measure the atom. It was a time marked by men moving away from the awe of the ancients to a greater understanding of how small we are in the world. The exploration of the globe, math, and science fostered greater analysis. 

The Enlightenment Age or Age of Reason 17^th-18^th Century: Individualism and reason moved against tradition. Practicality became more announced with the advancement of the scientific method. Logic and reason created healthy exchange of information. People like Francis Bacon, John Locke, Voltaire, Isaac Newton and Spinoza brought a whole new way of viewing the world. 

It created new discoveries such as machinery, chemicals, and classification of elements, refraction of light, electricity, systematic logic, and a better understanding of the universe. People tried to apply their knowledge to the creation of new things. They experimented and developed new items that led to the Industrial Age and the modern period. Small machines became manufacturing centers and the world changed. 

Today’s science is a greater refinement and understanding. We are moving inward and outward in our explorations. We have moved into the body and now understand the intimate nature of DNA and shot telescopes into space. The next discoveries will be about refining previous theories, expanding them, and moving into minute details of existence. This could not have come without the advances of previous ages and the building of one idea onto the next, and the next, and the next. The body of literature has expanded at a tremendous pace in the past 10 years. 

Gribbin, J. (2004). The Scientists. New York: Random House Trade Paperbacks.

Book Review: Checklist for Change-Making American Higher Education a Sustainable Enterprise

Checklist for Change-Making American Higher Education a Sustainable Enterprise by Robert Zemsky moves into the coming changes in higher education and why these are needed. The decline of higher education is seen as a growing problem within the country with national interests. His book moves through a perspective of educational reform and some of the reasons why these reforms are needed.

Faculty often resist change. They are traditional in their approach and often actively engaged in their unions. Their perspectives are based on hundreds of years of tradition and their role as researchers. Online education is changing some of these assumptions and faculty can view their role not only as a teacher but also as a researcher whose knowledge makes its way into new and updated courses.

The Federalized market has damaged innovation and development in higher education. As most land-grant universities rely heavily on government support and regulation their incentives to change are little. This highly regulated market has gagged some new approaches and lowered the total growth and change of the entire educational institution.

Divisive voices impact the change. The politics involved in higher education are astounding. Instead of an open discussion the higher education system has been used for political purposes and this is lowering its ability to develop and change. When something new occurs there is no end to voices that shout down the proposal. Policy makers will need to encourage experimentation, development, and change.

Curriculum will lead the way. As liberal arts colleges either die off or grow up to be universities the nature of education will change. Curriculum, the success of the learning experience, and the competencies gained will be important. Schools will be held to a higher standard of educating students to be successful in life and employment.

Faculty are part of the solution. Faculty are closely tied to the students and likely the industries in which they work. It is important for faculty and administrators to find an equitable way to work together. In many universities faculty and administrators are in constant battles over influence. Drawing them in to help in problem-solving will be important to keep the peace and encouraging change.

Zemsky, R. (2013) Checklist for Change-Making American Higher Education a Sustainable Enterprise. N.J.: Rutgers University Press

Book Review: The Way of Science

The Way of Science-Finding Truth and Meaning in a Scientific Worldview by Dennis Trumble discusses trying to find meaning in today’s world through science. He delves into a number of concepts such as human nature, society, and religion. He appears to fight for two concepts such as knowing science and knowing truth. 

The book spends some time exploring scientific thinking and how important it is for people to understand science in their everyday lives. If people understood science they wouldn’t be subject to half the beliefs that society and religion passes onto them. They would understand truth in a different way and would have a better grasp of the world around them. 

He is an advocate of critical thinking. To him people who think critically can see the science behind life and can weigh and balance the multiple concepts to come to a truth. Truth is seeing situations as they are without the falsities of culture, religion, and misguided beliefs. To the author, it appears that critical thinking and science wipes away layers of misunderstanding. 

Science also makes our lives better by allowing us to make better choices. If we try and understand our world around us we are much more likely to make better choices for ourselves as well as other people. Science affords us the opportunity to continually redefine our thinking to a better end. 

There is some benefit in the book in terms of understanding science. Rightly or wrongly, the author does seem to promote the culture of science which is often antagonistic to religion. He does bring forward the idea that life and meaning are subjective. However, he doesn’t see religion as part of the truth that we all experience; another way of understanding the world. 

It would seem that each is an expression of understanding. Science looks for analytical and logical conclusions while religion seems to provide us with spiritual guidance. They are part of our lives and understanding both may just give us that truth the author seems to have a part. The book is worth the read and brings up some interesting points to ponder even if you disagree with particular arguments. 

Other Reviews: 

http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/books/the-way-of-science-finding-truth-and-meaning-in-a-scientific-worldview-by-dennis-r-trumble/2008468.article

http://www.prometheusbooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=2177

http://tulsabookreview.com/2013/10/the-way-of-science-finding-truth-and-meaning-in-a-scientific-worldview/