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Ignorance
- How It Drives Science
- Narrated by: David Copelin
- Length: 4 hrs and 54 mins
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Ignorance
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Summary
Knowledge is a big subject, says Stuart Firestein, but ignorance is a bigger one. And it is ignorance - not knowledge - that is the true engine of science. Most of us have a false impression of science as a surefire, deliberate, step-by-step method for finding things out and getting things done. In fact, says Firestein, more often than not, science is like looking for a black cat in a dark room, and there may not be a cat in the room. The process is more hit-or-miss than you might imagine, with much stumbling and groping after phantoms. But it is exactly this not knowing, this puzzling over thorny questions or inexplicable data, that gets researchers into the lab early and keeps them there late, the thing that propels them, the very driving force of science.
Firestein shows how scientists use ignorance to program their work, to identify what should be done, what the next steps are, and where they should concentrate their energies. And he includes a catalog of how scientists use ignorance, consciously or unconsciously - a remarkable range of approaches that includes looking for connections to other research, revisiting apparently settled questions, using small questions to get at big ones, and tackling a problem simply out of curiosity. The book concludes with four case histories - in cognitive psychology, theoretical physics, astronomy, and neuroscience - that provide a feel for the nuts and bolts of ignorance, the day-to-day battle that goes on in scientific laboratories and in scientific minds with questions that range from the quotidian to the profound. Turning the conventional idea about science on its head, Ignorance opens a new window on the true nature of research. It is a must-read for anyone curious about science.
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What listeners say about Ignorance
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- Tom
- 28-11-20
Magnificent!
After reading this book, I know so much less than I did before I read it. A fire has been lit within me!
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- Neil B
- 23-05-20
Calling all Science Teachers!
If you are looking to engage your students in science and you want to help them decide if the world scientific research is a good fit for them, you need to read this excellent book. It will only take you a few hours over the weekend as it is designed to be a concise but engaging read.
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- Segun Osuntokun
- 12-06-23
Very thought provoking
I found this very enlightening and enjoyable. The author’s own journey from the world of theatre to that of science is fascinating and an instance of ignorance acting as a spur.
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- Lee
- 13-03-22
So good ...
...that I'm going to read it again, straight away. I enjoy books that make one think, and this one certainly did that. I have a fancy for all things counter-intuitive, and this book hits that mark also ... what's not to like?
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- Swede
- 12-12-20
Brilliant
Took forever to finish it because I had to stop and take notes all the time. This book is a gem.
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