Books: The Price of Blinkers

Science in History, by J. D. Bernal (MIT, 4 vol., 1,328 pp., $3.95/vol.)

The majority of scientists in the Western world rarely consider the nature or historical origins of the axiomatic assumptions which guide them. Perhaps the task of defining questions for experimental analysis inhibits extraneous thoughts. Whatever the reason, much has been lost as a result, and the price may be the free exploration of nature that we have come to know and expect from our scientists.

MG

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Michael Gazzaniga

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Science in History, by J. D. Bernal (MIT, 4 vol., 1,328 pp., $3.95/vol.)

The majority of scientists in the Western world rarely consider the nature or historical origins of the axiomatic assumptions which guide them. Perhaps the task of defining questions for experimental analysis inhibits extraneous thoughts. Whatever the reason, much has been lost as a result, and the price may be the free exploration of nature that we have come to know and expect from our scientists.