The Joy of Science : An Examination of How Scientists Ask and Answer Questions Using the Story of Evolution As a Paradigm

This book, by a practicing and successful scientist, explores why questions arise in science and looks at how questions are tackled, what constitutes a valid answer, and why. The author does not bog down the reader in technical details or lists of facts to memorize. Instead, he places the questions in their historical and cultural context, ranging from the earliest intimations that the earth had a long history to current controversies, even describing the origins, challenges, and promises of modern molecular biology. Addressing issues as complex as radiocarbon dating and how we know that DNA is a double helix, he uses examples, illustrations, and descriptions that all students should be able to grasp ("Were there kangaroos in Noah's Ark?"; "Molecular Biology Ain"t Rocket Science"). He gives the reader a sense of why a scientist feels always "like the child called to the stage to watch the magician do his trick". The author's thesis is that scientific logic is an extension of the common human logic used by everyone on a daily basis, and that it can and should be understood by everyone. The book should provide an antidote for students who have suffered through "science for non-scientists' courses that were long lists of names to memorize; and it should prove enlightening for any citizen who has been perplexed by the meaning, relevance, and moral or political implications of scientific headlines or commercial efforts, or anyone who has cast or will cast a vote influenced by a scientific presumption. The Joy Of Science......Page 2 Contents......Page 6 Preface......Page 10 Part 1 How Science Works......Page 13 Science Is An Elf......Page 15 Part 2 Origin Of The Theory Of Evolution: Time And Change......Page 31 The Origin Of The Earth And Of Species Of Animals And Plants As Seen Before The Enlightenment......Page 33 The Seashells On The Mountaintop......Page 47 Were Kangaroos On Noah’s Ark?......Page 57 Aristotle’s And Linnaeus’ Classifications Of Living Creatures......Page 67 Darwin’s World—species, Varieties, And The Age Of The Earth. Evidences Of Glaciation......Page 81 The Voyage Of The Beagle......Page 93 Is The Earth Old Enough For Evolution?......Page 107 Part 3 Origin Of The Theory Of Evolution: Social Aspects......Page 123 Evaluating Data......Page 125 The Industrial Revolution, Population Potential, Malthus, Social Pressure, And Competition......Page 161 Natural Selection: The Second Half Of Darwin’s Hypothesis......Page 169 Darwin’s Hypothesis......Page 179 The Crisis In Evolution......Page 187 Part 4 The Molecular Basis Of Evolutionary Theory......Page 201 The Chemical Basis Of Evolution......Page 203 The Stuff Of Inheritance: Dna, Rna, And Mutations......Page 233 The Genetic Code......Page 239 Part 5 The History Of The Earth And The Origin Of Life......Page 255 The Story Of Our Planet......Page 257 The Appearance Of Oxygen......Page 269 The Conquest Of Land—every Criterion For The Classification Of The Major Groups Of Animals And Plants Refers To Adaptations For......Page 283 The Great Ages Of Our Planet......Page 291 Return To Water And To Land......Page 307 Evidence For Extinctions—why Do We Get Them?......Page 315 The Violence Of The Earth: Rainshadows And Volcanoes......Page 331 Part 6 The Origin Of Species......Page 345 Competition Among Species......Page 347 Sexual Selection......Page 353 Coevolution......Page 363 The Importance Of Disease......Page 371 The Aids Murder Mystery—what Constitutes Proof?......Page 381 Part 7 The Evolution Of Humans......Page 391 The Evolution Of Humans......Page 393 When Did Humans Acquire A Soul?......Page 415 The Impact Of Evolutionary Theory: The Eugenics Society And The I.q. Test......Page 421 Evaluating Population Measurements: Bell Curves, Statistics, And Probability......Page 437 Conclusions—where Do We Go From Here?......Page 445 Index......Page 449 Scientists have great passion. What could be more exhilarating than to go to work every day feeling as if you were once again a nine-year-old called up to he stage to help the magician with his trick? To be a researcher is to always be in the position of having the chance to see how the trick works. No wonder that many researchers feel that each new day is the most exciting day to be a scientist. It therefore is not surprising that scientists have such trouble communicating with non-scientists. It is difficult for the scientist to understand a life not focused on the desire to understand. But the differences are not that. Everyone wants to understand; that is one of the factors that make us human. The difference is more that scientists limit their definition of comprehension to specific rules of logic and evidence. These rules apply and are used in everyday life, but often with less rigor or restrictions on evidence. This book reveals that scientific logic is an extension of common, everyday logic and that it can and should be understood by everyone. Written by a practicing and successful scientist, it explores why questions arise in science and looks at how questions are tackled, what constitutes a valid answer, and why. The author does not bog the reader down in technical details or lists of facts to memorize. He uses accessible examples, illustrations, and descriptions to address complex issues. The book should prove enlightening to anyone who has been perplexed by the meaning, relevance, and moral or political implications of science. This Book, By A Practicing And Successful Scientist, Explores Why Questions Arise In Science And Looks At How Questions Are Tackled, What Constitutes A Valid Answer And Why.--back Cover. How Science Works -- Origin Of The Theory Of Evolution: Time And Change -- Origin Of The Theory Of Evolution: Social Aspects -- Molecular Basis Of Evolutionary Theory -- History Of The Earth And The Origin Of Life -- Origin Of Species -- Evolution Of Humans. Edited By Richard A. Lockshin. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.