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Synopsis
"Science," writes Sir Peter Medawar, "is incomparably the most successful enterprise human beings have ever engaged upon." In this brief, brilliant book the Nobel laureate explores the nature and limitations of scientific pursuit. The three essays included touch on some of the largest questions known to man: Can science determine the existence of God? Is there one "scientific method" by which all the secrets of the universe can be discovered?
In "An Essay on Scians" (an early spelling of "science"), Medawar examines the process of scientific inquiry. Debunking the common belief that science is inductively structured, he claims that great leaps of imagination are required to determine the laws of nature and likens the process of scientific hypothesis to the creative acts of poets and artists. The question posed in "Can Scientific Discovery Be Premeditated?" is answered with a firm no. Sir Peter stresses the role of luck in the history of science and cites as examples of un-premeditated discoveries those of X-rays, HLA polymorphism, and the nature of the disease myasthenia gravis. In the title essay, Medawar distinguishes between "transcendent" questions, which are better left to religion, literature, and metaphysics, and questions about the organization and structure of the material universe. With regard to the latter, he concludes, there are no limits to the possibilities of scientific achievement. "This is science's greatest glory," writes Medawar, "for it entails that everything which is possible in principle can be done if the intention to do it is sufficiently resolute and long sustained."
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About the Author
About the Author:
Sir Peter Medawar, who won the Nobel Prize with Sir Macfarlane Burnet in 1960 for demonstrating the possibility of transplanting tissues between genetically different organisms, is the author of Pluto's Republic, Memoirs of a Thinking Radish, and numerous other books.
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The Limits of Science
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ISBN 10: 0060390360
ISBN 13: 9780060390365
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The Limits of Science
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ISBN 10: 0060390360
ISBN 13: 9780060390365
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The Limits of Science
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The Limits of Science
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Harper & Row, Publishers, 1984
ISBN 10: 0060390360
ISBN 13: 9780060390365
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The Limits of Science
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ISBN 13: 9780060390365
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The Limits of Science ("A Cornelia & Michael Bessie Book")
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Hardcover. Condition: Near Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Near Fine. 1st Edition. 108 pp., xiii. Stated: "FIRST EDITION" with '1' in number line. Three black and white Plates. Contents, following Preface: "An Essay on Scians", pp. 3-40, Notes, p. 41; "Can Scientific Discovery be Premeditated?", pp. 45-52, Notes, p. 53, References, p. 54; "The Limits of Science": Abstract, pp. 59-60; 1. "Plus Ultra?", pp. 61-67; 2. "Is the Growth of Science Self-Limited?", pp. 68-74; 3. "Is There an Intrinsic Limitation to the Growth of Science?", pp. 75-82; 4. "Where 'Plus Ultra' Prevails", pp. 83-87; 5. "Where Then Shall We Turn?", pp. 88-91; 6. "The Purpose of Transcendent Explanation and Whether Religion Fulfills It", pp. 92-93; 7. "The Question of the Existence of God", pp. 94-99; Notes, p101-103; Index, pp. 105-108, followed by brief author bio. Blue cloth with brilliant gilt lettering on spine; tan endpapers. Glossy dark blue dustwrapper not price-clipped $11.95) with title and author lettering in white, edged in yellow across middle front cover; black and white photo image in a square at top right front cover; 1/2 " tear up front lower edge near bottom right corner (long taped over); tiny tip wear at cover corners; two nicks at top spine end; thin soft crease across 2/3 front cover top edge (dw riding too high): describes worse than it is but there you have it: Now in Brodart mylar which graciously forgives trespasses. Book itself has slight sunning on inner sides of top edges above endpapers and very tops of edges, else unqualifiedly Fine: strong binding; sharp corners (NO bumps or curls); NO previous owner names; NO rubbing wear; NO remainder marks. Clean text. Looks little read, if that. Solid copy. Seller Inventory # 002294
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