The idea of elegance in science is not necessarily a
familiar one, but it is an important one. The use of the
term is perhaps most clear-cut in mathematics - the
elegant proof - and this is where Ian Glynn begins his
exploration. Scientists often share a sense of
admiration and excitement on hearing of an elegant
solution to a problem, an elegant theory, or an elegant
experiment. The idea of elegance may seem strange in a
field of endeavour that prides itself in its
objectivity, but only if science is regarded as a dull,
dry activity of counting and measuring. It is, of
course, far more than that, and elegance is a
fundamental aspect of the beauty and imagination
involved in scientific activity. Ian Glynn, a
distinguished scientist, selects historical examples
from a range of sciences to draw out the principles of
science, including Kepler's Laws, the experiments that
demonstrated the nature of heat, and the action of
nerves, and of course the several extraordinary episodes
that led to Watson and Crick's discovery of the
structure of DNA.With a highly readable selection of
inspiring episodes highlighting the role of beauty and
simplicity in the sciences, the book also relates to
important philosophical issues of inference, and Glynn
ends by warning us not to rely on beauty and simplicity
alone - even the most elegant explanation can be
wrong. |
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