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PZ Myers is a biologist and associate professor at the University of Minnesota, Morris.
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More articles by PZ Myers can be found on Freethoughtblogs at the new Pharyngula!
Category: Communicating science
Posted on: January 15, 2012 5:25 PM, by PZ Myers
Every year he asks people questions, and every year he compiles the answers. This year, the question is "What is your favorite deep, elegant, or beautiful explanation?", and he got 188 completely different answers back.
Did he forget to ask you? Then you can leave your answer in the comments here.
(Also on FtB)
Life ScienceHTML commands: <i>italic</i>, <b>bold</b>, <a href="url">link</a>, <blockquote>quote</blockquote>
pharyngula 02.21.2012
confessions of a science librarian 02.21.2012
dean's corner 02.21.2012
aetiology 02.21.2012
we beasties 02.21.2012
Comments
Posted by: richard.blumberg
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January 15, 2012 11:41 PM
When the shit hits the fan, there are just two things you have to do: turn off the fan, and clean up the shit.
Posted by: jherrera1277
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January 16, 2012 12:10 AM
Secularism
Appeasing delusions of grandeur should neither be expected nor respected.
Posted by: barefoothiker
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January 16, 2012 8:24 AM
That any atom in your body heavier than hydrogen was forged inside a star, and was only available to make you because it was distributed out into the universe by a star somewhere going supernova billions of years ago. Thank you, Carl Sagan, for making me feel profoundly a part of an amazing universe.
Posted by: BABH
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January 16, 2012 12:44 PM
e^{i pi} + 1 = 0
Posted by: BABH
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January 16, 2012 1:03 PM
Also:
"If we take into our hand any volume - of divinity or school metaphysics, for instance - let us ask: Does it contain any abstract reasoning concerning quantity or number? No. Does it contain any experimental reasoning concerning matter of fact and existence? No. Consign it then to the flames, for it can contain nothing but sophistry and illusion."
- David Hume
Posted by: Bill Dauphin, avec fromage
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January 16, 2012 3:12 PM
BABH:
So Shakespeare? Faulkner? Nikki Giovanni? To say nothing of Tolkien or Rowling? All smoke and ash?
I don't imagine Hume really intended to consign all nonscientific literature to the flames... but the quote you provide sure reads that way: "of divinity or school metaphysics, for instance [emphasis added]" does not actually limit the scope of the phrase "any volume."
Defenders of science sometimes forget, in their zeal, that there are other sorts of books that are valuable. Not every book that isn't quantitative is "sophistry," and not every "illusion" is evil.
Posted by: Ima Putz
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January 16, 2012 4:20 PM
Because.
Posted by: BABH
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January 16, 2012 6:19 PM
Obviously he was referring to natural philosophy (which at the time included everything from theology to physics), not to works of history or literature.
But yes, all philosophy that isn't analytic is sophistry. Oh, and much as I enjoyed "The Hobbit" as a kid, neither Tolkien nor Rowling can write worth a damn. [ducks]
Posted by: Bill Dauphin, avec fromage
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January 17, 2012 12:32 AM
BABH:
I made that assumption, because I don't imagine Hume was an idiot... but my point was that that's not obvious at all from the selection you quoted. Hume's idea may have been "elegant, deep, or beautiful" (though I'm not 100% sure I agree with the if it's no'
Scottishanalytical, it's crap! approach); your edit, not so much.Posted by: BABH
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January 19, 2012 11:23 AM
"Not obvious at all" and "Not obvious to Bill Dauphin" may be two different things.