The Ascent of ScienceFrom the revolutionary discoveries of Galileo and Newton to the mind-bending theories of Einstein and Heisenberg, from plate tectonics to particle physics, from the origin of life to universal entropy, and from biology to cosmology, here is a sweeping, readable, and dynamic account of the whole of Western science. In the approachable manner and method of Stephen Jay Gould and Carl Sagan, the late Brian L. Silver translates our most important, and often most obscure, scientific developments into a vernacular that is not only accessible and illuminating but also enjoyable. Silver makes his comprehensive case with much clarity and insight; his book aptly locates science as the apex of human reason, and reason as our best path to the truth. For all readers curious about--or else perhaps intimidated by--what Silver calls "the scientific campaign up to now" in his Preface, The Ascent of Science will be fresh, vivid, and fascinating reading. |
From inside the book
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Page xiii
... Scientists come in many colors , of which the green of jealousy and the purple of rage are fashionable shades . The ... scientist , some- where , who is disproving an explanation that another scientist has proposed . Usu- ally these ...
... Scientists come in many colors , of which the green of jealousy and the purple of rage are fashionable shades . The ... scientist , some- where , who is disproving an explanation that another scientist has proposed . Usu- ally these ...
Page xv
... scientists can only form a blurred image of what the expert sees more or less clearly , and it is hardly encouraging that those experts are fighting to clarify some of the most basic con- cepts of science . Nevertheless , the vast ...
... scientists can only form a blurred image of what the expert sees more or less clearly , and it is hardly encouraging that those experts are fighting to clarify some of the most basic con- cepts of science . Nevertheless , the vast ...
Page 1
Brian L. Silver. In which , among other things , we will look at the fallibility of science and of scientists , and ask if anyone can be trusted . This page intentionally left blank 1 Newton Gets It Completely Part One.
Brian L. Silver. In which , among other things , we will look at the fallibility of science and of scientists , and ask if anyone can be trusted . This page intentionally left blank 1 Newton Gets It Completely Part One.
Page 3
... scientists see gases is not the way that our eyes see them . In fact our eyes don't see air at all , but it is typical of science that it starts off with the somewhat thin evidence of the senses and then proceeds , by experiment and ...
... scientists see gases is not the way that our eyes see them . In fact our eyes don't see air at all , but it is typical of science that it starts off with the somewhat thin evidence of the senses and then proceeds , by experiment and ...
Page 10
... scientist ever , Newton managed to get the right answer from a model that was wrong in every possible way ... scientists ? 4 You can see one reason why it can't possibly be true always , since if you compress a gas enough you ...
... scientist ever , Newton managed to get the right answer from a model that was wrong in every possible way ... scientists ? 4 You can see one reason why it can't possibly be true always , since if you compress a gas enough you ...
Contents
Part Two | 27 |
Part Three | 79 |
Part Four | 111 |
Part Five | 181 |
Part Six | 251 |
Part Seven | 355 |
Part Eight | 415 |
Part Nine | 477 |
Part Ten | 507 |
513 | |
519 | |
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Common terms and phrases
acceleration amino acids appear atoms basic behavior believe Big Bang body carbon cells century chemical chemistry chromosomes completely concept contains crystal Darwin Descartes Earth effect Einstein electric electromagnetic electron elementary particles elements energy Enlightenment entropy enzyme equation evolution example existence experiments fact Faraday Figure frequencies galaxies Galilean invariance Galileo gases gene genetic give gravity heat helium Higgs boson human hydrogen hydrogen atom idea laws of motion living look mass material mathematical matter means measure metal million molecular molecules moving mutant nature neutron Newton Newtonian nucleus observed organism oxygen particles path philosopher photons physical physicist planets predict probability problem produced proteins Pythagoras quantum mechanics quarks radiation reason relativity result scientific scientists second law space special relativity species speed of light stars structure surface temperature theory tion universe velocity wave function
Popular passages
Page 12 - I now have before me a road which will lead us from the contemplation of the true God (in whom all the treasures of science and wisdom are contained) to the knowledge of the other objects of the universe. For, first of all, I recognise it to be impossible that He should ever deceive me...