I've just finished reading a book charting the progress over the last century of quantum physics and general relativity and the attempts by leading scientific minds to unify or reconcile the mathematical anomolies that exist[ed] between the two scalular theories.
To avoid descending into the realms of mind-numbing boredom I'll try to be concise - the book concentrates, largely, on the pre-emiance of string theory or M-theory as a means of mathematical unification for the afore-mentioned theories of force. While I find string theory intriguing and chiefly plausible it was more the author/contributor that got me thinking about making this particular blog entry.
The author is a leading physics mind called Edward Witten. A name, I suspect, that 99% of the world is utterly unfamiliar with but one which is internationally regarded as the greatest mind in 20/21st century physics - many labelling him the "new Einstein". Looking back to Einstein (and, indeed, further - to Newton) one realises that prolific minds (not just in science but in art, poetry, music etc.) were celebrities - revered by the masses for outstanding ability or accomplishment in their field.
It saddened me to think that all over the globe exist individuals with remarkable minds or contributions to make to mankind with so little - if any - general public appeal or appreciation.
At a friends house the other evening the television was on and they (my married friends, mid-30s) were watching "Celebrity Extreme Makeover - Jade's Mum" - a show in which Jade Goody's mother was chopped up and reassembled for the entertainment and delectation of those desperate enough to subscribe to LivingTV.
Surely then, it's harder to reconcile the sense of - and interest in - "Jades Mum" receiving a breast augmentation with Mr Witten receiving a Field's medal for contributions to contemporary science than it is to test and prove string (or M-) theory as a unification for micro and macro forces of nature.
1 comment:
An interesting debate and, perhaps, the first and last time Ms.Goody and quantum mechanics appear together in the same article! The UK public today are, I believe, uniquely scornful of academia. Academics in Europe are generally more respected (and recognised) by the public, whereas in the UK they are generally sidelined, belittled and condemned by the worst aspects of popular culture and what I call populist ‘chip on the shoulder’ ignorance. There are a few exceptions, although only those who have been accepted into media roles (Robert Winston, Richard Dawkins, to give some examples) or are exotic, eccentric or in some way a little different from the mainstream (Germaine Greer, Stephen Hawking, David Starkey). Academics, of course, do influence public policy (the prime example being Tony Giddens, the eminent sociologist who constructed what became New Labour’s mission), although they aren’t as recognised as, say, Bourdieu was in France or Jurgen Habamas still is in Germany. We no longer 'do' public intellectuals in this country, something that I believe this country will pay a price for in future generations.
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