Exploding a Myth: Conventional Wisdom or Scientific Truth? - Softcover

Dunning-Davies, Jeremy

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1904275303 ISBN 13: 9781904275305

Publisher: Woodhead Publishing, 2007

Synopsis

In this book Jeremy Dunning-Davies deals with the influence that "conventional wisdom" has on science, scientific research and development. He sets out to 'explode' the mythical conception that all scientific topics are open for free discussion and argues that no-one can openly raise questions about relativity, dispute the 'Big Bang' theory, or the existence of black holes, which all seem to be accepted facts of science rather than science fiction. In today's modern climate with "Britain's radioactive refuse heap already big enough to fill the Royal Albert Hall" (Edmund Conway, Economics Editor The Daily Telegraph 28.11.06), it is alarming that there are potential advances in hadronic mechanics which could conceivably pave the way for new clean energies and even a safe in-house method for the disposal of nuclear waste, that have not even been considered by the present establishment. These examples are from the field of physics but there can be little doubt that outside factors have affected the progress of most, if not all, branches of science for many years. Factors other than purely scientific ones still appear to be exerting tremendous influences on progress in a wide variety of fields. Is it too idealistic or naïve to expect that science should remain pure and stay unaffected by such factors? Dr Dunning-Davies presents a beautifully written argument that if science is to progress, and be of any real use, these external factors must be held at bay.

About this title

About the Author

Jeremy Dunning-Davies, University of Hull, UK

From the Inside Flap

Professor Jeremy Dunning-Davies has been sincerely and deeply worried for a number of years by the pernicious effects that non-scientific influences have had, and continue to have, on scientific research.
This book expresses his concern that many scientific theories are not treated as theories, but are being perceived as already proven. Challenges to these `ideas, hypotheses and suppositions' are therefore seldom acknowledged or supported by certain sectors of the establishment.
If these outside pressures adversely influence the area of physics, Professor Dunning-Davies puts forward the very real possibility of them affecting other areas of science such as medicine, where trust and honesty assumes increasing importance.

Edition details

• Publisher: Woodhead Publishing
• Publication date: 2007
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1904275303
• ISBN 13: 9781904275305
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 256