Britain’s empire of science
newstatesman.com
Britain’s empire of science
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Re: Britain’s empire of science
#2Re: Britain’s empire of science
#3I feel that while the article makes some accurate remarks linking Victorian ethos to our current technological prowess, it's too simplistic to assume that today's scientific achievements are not instead part of a multicultural advancement continuing from millennia.
I did found very interesting the anecdote around 1820 with the shift from the "old guard" on the British Royal Society. But it led to me to wonder why such an importance is given to specialized knowledge. It's like reducing every problem to be solved by a depth-first search algorithm.
Re: Britain’s empire of science
#4British publications love to explain how British culture is responsible for British scientific achievements. Fact is, scientific powerhouses have appeared throughout history in different cultures. What factors contribute to a scientific golden age? I’m unimpressed with an analysis that looks like a puff piece for British culture, and contains a supposed “cautionary tale”, but fails to do any do any comparative work or look at the places where Britain has faltered. (The “cautionary tale” is something that you insert partway down the article to make it seem less like a feel-good story about how awesome Britain is, you see.)
Why was Baghdad such a shining star of scientific and technological achievement for four centuries? How did it appear in the first place, and why did it end? Was it uniquely tied to Islamic cultures of the time?
How about classical antiquity? China?
Why did Britain make the jet engine and sonar, become the world leader in computing, and then within 30 years, strangle their computer industry into near oblivion? Why did America, one of the countries with the most cultural ties to England, succeed?
I get the feeling reading this article that all I am supposed to do is feel good about Britain, and not ask any of these questions.
Re: Britain’s empire of science
#5British publications love to explain how British culture is responsible for British scientific achievements. Fact is, scientific powerhouses have appeared throughout history in different cultures. What factors contribute to a scientific golden age? I’m unimpressed with an analysis that looks like a puff piece for British culture, and contains a supposed “cautionary tale”, but fails to do any do any comparative work o…
Anytime one finds oneself in a society which lies near the centre of an extensive trade network, one can find oneself treated to many dinners by the simple expedient of concocting a little story about how it is (not their geographical-economic situation but) their culture which is responsible for their affluence.
Re: Britain’s empire of science
#6British publications love to explain how British culture is responsible for British scientific achievements. Fact is, scientific powerhouses have appeared throughout history in different cultures. What factors contribute to a scientific golden age? I’m unimpressed with an analysis that looks like a puff piece for British culture, and contains a supposed “cautionary tale”, but fails to do any do any comparative work o…
Anytime one finds oneself in a society which lies near the centre of an extensive trade network, one can find oneself treated to many dinners by the simple expedient of concocting a little story about how it is (not their geographical-economic situation but) their culture which is responsible for their affluence.
I remember a piece posted to HN some years ago—some kind of scientific paper, by Indian authors, explaining why Indian food tastes good in some kind of scientific sense. I have not stopped thinking about that paper.
Re: Britain’s empire of science
#7> The role of technoscience – the fusion of scientific research and its technological applications – in driving social change, for good or ill, is central to thinking about the future.
This, to me, is the central issue with science, and also cuts to the core of why I have lost faith in its methodology and output.
Questions to consider:
Whose vision of the future?
Its not my vision. It is some sort of techno-governance monstrosity, which sounds hellish.
Who is funding the science?
Its not scientists, they undertake the work for which they can get funding. Ultimately, its bankers, via government and corporate institutions.
With that in mind, it is also possible for the individual to answer whether 'technoscience is driving social change for good or ill'.
Re: Britain’s empire of science
#8British publications love to explain how British culture is responsible for British scientific achievements. Fact is, scientific powerhouses have appeared throughout history in different cultures. What factors contribute to a scientific golden age? I’m unimpressed with an analysis that looks like a puff piece for British culture, and contains a supposed “cautionary tale”, but fails to do any do any comparative work o…
I’m unimpressed with an analysis that looks like a puff piece for British culture [...] I get the feeling reading this article that all I am supposed to do is feel good about Britain, and not ask any of these questions.
I think you've completely misread it, it was more about the transition of scientific mindset in the West generally from Victorian times.
Re: Britain’s empire of science
#9Earlier quoted context omitted.
Anytime one finds oneself in a society which lies near the centre of an extensive trade network, one can find oneself treated to many dinners by the simple expedient of concocting a little story about how it is (not their geographical-economic situation but) their culture which is responsible for their affluence.
I remember a piece posted to HN some years ago—some kind of scientific paper, by Indian authors, explaining why Indian food tastes good in some kind of scientific sense. I have not stopped thinking about that paper.
Please do share!
Re: Britain’s empire of science
#10British publications love to explain how British culture is responsible for British scientific achievements. Fact is, scientific powerhouses have appeared throughout history in different cultures. What factors contribute to a scientific golden age? I’m unimpressed with an analysis that looks like a puff piece for British culture, and contains a supposed “cautionary tale”, but fails to do any do any comparative work o…
> British publications love to explain how British culture is responsible for British scientific achievements.
That's really not the usual position of the New Statesman.