Science Gap: Dispelling the Myths and Understanding the Reality of Science

by Milton A. Rothman

Book Overview

At a time when there is an ever-widening gap between what the expert knows and what the average person believes, this accessible volume clearly explains the scientific facts and concepts that are indispensable for an understanding of our material universe.Milton Rothman examines sixteen standard myths about the nature of science, demonstrating that much of what passes for logical argumentation consists of the repetition of cliches and current folklore...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1591021642
• ISBN13: 9781591021643
• Release Date: November 2003
• Publisher: Prometheus Books
• Length: 254 Pages
• Weight: 0.66 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.5" x 8.4"

Customer Reviews

The Tragedy of Applied Mythology

After reading this book, I am left with a certain sense of tragedy; it is like having watched a play where you know what every character us up to (though they don't) and watching as each makes a series of mistakes based on faulty assumptions that in hindsight are regretted. I would have thought this a comedy of errors were not the consequences so dire. It is too clear that the public's understanding of reality is biased almost beyond hope; that The Science Gap could be read by everyone!Each chapter is a myth about science, of which there are sixteen:1. "Nothing exists until it is observed." 2. "Nothing is known for sure." 3. "Nothing is impossible." 4. "Whatever we think we know now is likely to be overturned in the future." 5. "Advanced civilizations of the future will have the use of forces unknown to us at present." 6. "Advanced civilizations on other planets posess great forces unavailable to us on earth." 7. "There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy." 8. "Scientists don't have any imagination." 9. "Scientists create theories by intuition." 10. "All theories are equal." 11. "All scientists are objective." 12. "Scientists are always making false predictions." 13. "All problems can be solved by computer modeling." 14. "More technology will solve all problems." 15. Myths about Reductionism 16. "Myths are just harmless fun and good for the soul."Each is taken down from its gilded pedestal and its serious flaws are revealed. I found chapter fourteen to be most enlightening; the bulk is devoted to the problem of exponential growth and overpopulation. Have you ever seen those 'starving children in Africa' commercials run by christian charities? I thought about them while I read this chapter. Sure, you can send impoverished people 'pennies a day' to make their lives better. But what happens when your efforts result in all five of their children surviving instead of one or two? Who will feed them? And when they have children themselves?It is like some obscene pyramid scheme that temporarily alleviates suffering and mysery so that even more people can experience it in the future. The implications are terrifying.It is sad then that people who apply various myths (technological and theological) conspire to prevent family planning in these regions. The tragedy of overpopulation is the result. We must overcome our tenacious clinging to these destructive myths or the destruction will increase. The further tragedy is that I don't think it will happen any time soon.One of the main thesis which we see emerge in the chapters is that realism has brought about the dramatic blossoming of science while the pursuit of idealism have been a barren exercise. Chapter ten gives a well-illustrated summary of the difference between realists and idealists in politics (with examples of how they react to abortion or flag burning). The idealist position is grounded in myt