The New Physics and Its Evolution Lucien Poincaré 9781142691172 Books
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This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923. This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book.
The New Physics and Its Evolution Lucien Poincaré 9781142691172 Books
This was written about 101 years ago as I write this review. The science documented in this book is fascinating in it's own right, but that is not the reason you should read this book. The snapshot of science as it existed is also fascinating. The use of the English language is extraordinarily clear to me, even though the phrasing seems quaint. It is very clear that much effort went into word and phrase choices to get just the right idea across. Words are used efficiently. There are no wasted words.But none of that is what's most important to me. What is really astonishing, and appropriate especially for modern audiences, is the authors philosophical approach to what science really is. Is science the curiosity itch getting scratched? Is science the mundane application of the "scientific method"? Is science the production quotient of associate professors? Is science simply adding to human knowledge? It is none of the above. Science results when engineers ask for "a better light" and the "physicists" labor to get him that. Science results when doctors ask "how does this remedy work?" and the chemical "physicists" labor diligently to figure it out. In his mind, science is mostly physicists. But it also includes the "educated, erudite amateur" who "strives to understand" the modern developments in the scientific world. He states that "complicated physical models" deter "all but the boldest of human minds". He does not criticize the models at all, just notes that all but very bold minds are deterred. What is really cool is that he can see eras in human history where scientists have declared victory over their fields, in that the scientists of historical times seemed to have felt that all of science was laid clear, and that there were no more mysteries to analyze. This scientific hubris has been punished time and again with old theories laid waste with new discoveries. He is completely aware that of all the modern discoveries, many will be laid to waste with more modern work. This is perfectly clear with his many faceted deliberations on the "ether". The "ether" is mentioned again and again. As the scientists of 1909 struggle with the "ether" again and again, it is clear to us in hindsight that the struggles were because there is no ether. I think they understood that of all the possible results of their labors, an understanding that there is no ether at all would have made sense to them, but they really struggled with it.
It is also very interesting to note that almost every theory discussed in the book has a name attached to it. In other words, you wouldn't say "gravitational theory", you would say "gravitational theory of Newton". You wouldn't say, for instance, discovery of the gamma rays. You would say, instead, "discovery of the gamma rays of Madame Curie". In scientific communication, this would immediately let your reader know that you were talking about the Rays that Madame Curie was laboring to investigate, and all she has written about it. The science is, therefore, quite tightly attached to the person and personality of those people who investigated it. Nowadays, with science by committee, hundreds of co-authors, and funding by agencies, this personal attachment to scientific advance is completely gone. Just imagine someone saying, for instance, the "Standard Model" of Feynman of particle physics. Or, the "Black Holes of Hawking". Maybe Hawking's black holes are sufficiently different from the "Chicago School's" black holes, but we just don't speak like that anymore. Reading this book is, therefore, Nostalgic on a very large scale.
I think that this book should be required reading of college students of science and history and communication. It is that important.
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The New Physics and Its Evolution Lucien Poincaré 9781142691172 Books Reviews
k
A Light read for students of physics. Good book to read.
This is a pretty good book. It is somewhat hard to understand in parts,but if you love Physics I'm sure you'll have no problem understanding it!
Wasn't prepared for the breadth of accessible genius that is Poincare. A must for anyone with a scientific mind and a historical bent.
I dunno if Poincare is fit to stand in Maxwells shadow...
Satisfied
Any time you read a book that's generations old, it is not going to depict science as it is today, of course. This is a view of a scientist from the past and his ideas. It was hard for me to read because I'm more interested in current science or science history written by science historians. It would be of interest to some.
This was written about 101 years ago as I write this review. The science documented in this book is fascinating in it's own right, but that is not the reason you should read this book. The snapshot of science as it existed is also fascinating. The use of the English language is extraordinarily clear to me, even though the phrasing seems quaint. It is very clear that much effort went into word and phrase choices to get just the right idea across. Words are used efficiently. There are no wasted words.
But none of that is what's most important to me. What is really astonishing, and appropriate especially for modern audiences, is the authors philosophical approach to what science really is. Is science the curiosity itch getting scratched? Is science the mundane application of the "scientific method"? Is science the production quotient of associate professors? Is science simply adding to human knowledge? It is none of the above. Science results when engineers ask for "a better light" and the "physicists" labor to get him that. Science results when doctors ask "how does this remedy work?" and the chemical "physicists" labor diligently to figure it out. In his mind, science is mostly physicists. But it also includes the "educated, erudite amateur" who "strives to understand" the modern developments in the scientific world. He states that "complicated physical models" deter "all but the boldest of human minds". He does not criticize the models at all, just notes that all but very bold minds are deterred. What is really cool is that he can see eras in human history where scientists have declared victory over their fields, in that the scientists of historical times seemed to have felt that all of science was laid clear, and that there were no more mysteries to analyze. This scientific hubris has been punished time and again with old theories laid waste with new discoveries. He is completely aware that of all the modern discoveries, many will be laid to waste with more modern work. This is perfectly clear with his many faceted deliberations on the "ether". The "ether" is mentioned again and again. As the scientists of 1909 struggle with the "ether" again and again, it is clear to us in hindsight that the struggles were because there is no ether. I think they understood that of all the possible results of their labors, an understanding that there is no ether at all would have made sense to them, but they really struggled with it.
It is also very interesting to note that almost every theory discussed in the book has a name attached to it. In other words, you wouldn't say "gravitational theory", you would say "gravitational theory of Newton". You wouldn't say, for instance, discovery of the gamma rays. You would say, instead, "discovery of the gamma rays of Madame Curie". In scientific communication, this would immediately let your reader know that you were talking about the Rays that Madame Curie was laboring to investigate, and all she has written about it. The science is, therefore, quite tightly attached to the person and personality of those people who investigated it. Nowadays, with science by committee, hundreds of co-authors, and funding by agencies, this personal attachment to scientific advance is completely gone. Just imagine someone saying, for instance, the "Standard Model" of Feynman of particle physics. Or, the "Black Holes of Hawking". Maybe Hawking's black holes are sufficiently different from the "Chicago School's" black holes, but we just don't speak like that anymore. Reading this book is, therefore, Nostalgic on a very large scale.
I think that this book should be required reading of college students of science and history and communication. It is that important.
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