Newton’s Apple and Other Myths about Science by Ronald L. Numbers (PDF)

Description

A falling apple inspired Isaac Newton’s insight into the law of gravity―or so the story goes. Is it true? Perhaps not. But the more intriguing question is why such stories endure as explanations of how science happens. Newton’s Apple and Other Myths about Science brushes away popular misconceptions to provide a clearer picture of great scientific breakthroughs from ancient times to the present.Among the myths refuted in this volume is the idea that no science was done in the Dark Ages, that alchemy and astrology were purely superstitious pursuits, that fear of public reaction alone led Darwin to delay publishing his theory of evolution, and that Gregor Mendel was far ahead of his time as a pioneer of genetics. Several twentieth-century myths about particle physics, Einstein’s theory of relativity, and more are discredited here as well. In addition, a number of broad generalizations about science go under the microscope of history: the notion that religion impeded science, that scientists typically adhere to a codified “scientific method,” and that a bright line can be drawn between legitimate science and pseudoscience.Edited by Ronald Numbers and Kostas Kampourakis, Newton’s Apple and Other Myths about Science debunks the widespread belief that science advances when individual geniuses experience “Eureka!” moments and suddenly comprehend what those around them could never imagine. Science has always been a cooperative enterprise of dedicated, fallible human beings, for whom context, collaboration, and sheer good luck are the essential elements of discovery.

User’s Reviews

Editorial Reviews: Review “[A] provocative collection that tackles some of science’s most enduring misconceptions and dubious assumptions.”―Gemma Tarlach, Discover“In Newton’s Apple and Other Myths about Science 27 experts in the history of science and science education explore 27 ‘myths’ that are staples of classroom and popular science. Each short, readable and authoritative chapter is perfect commute-length reading. Better than just countering the myths, the book explains when they arose and why they stuck.”―Rebekah Higgitt, The Guardian“[A] delightful collection of short, thought-provoking essays…Every reader should find something to surprise them.”―Jim Endersby, Science“Newton’s Apple seeks to expose lingering misconceptions about the precursors of modern science, about how science is conducted, and about leading researchers who pushed their fields forward.”―Bob Grant, The Scientist“Myth busting is always great fun as well as being educational. Newton’s Apple and Other Myths about Science is a splendid sequel to Galileo Goes to Jail and Other Myths about Science and Religion. Here, twenty-eight experts punch holes in widely-held opinions about science. But it may be disconcerting to find a few of your own long-held beliefs in the ranks. So don’t read this book if you aren’t prepared to change your mind.”―Owen Gingerich, author of God’s Planet“Twenty-seven popular myths about science and its history bite the dust in this engaging and timely book. In these essays, Numbers, Kampourakis, and a host of eminent experts set the record straight and explore how and why these myths become part of our collective memory―whether right or wrong. Each chapter offers important lessons about history and the scientists involved in some of our most significant discoveries.”―Janet Browne, author of Charles Darwin: A Biography“Numbers and Kampourakis have assembled a splendid collection of essays challenging rampant misconceptions about science past and present. This book will be of interest to researchers, teachers, students, and anyone who cares about getting the history of science right.”―Angela N. H. Creager, author of Life Atomic“Many of the facts we think we know about science―that Isaac Newton has an epiphany about gravity when an apple fell on his head, for example, are apocryphal. These essays by science and other historians challenge the idea that science is an endeavor that jumps forward because of the discoveries or inventions of individuals, explaining that it is instead advanced by the accretion of tiny breakthroughs made by multitudes over time.”―Henrietta Verma, Library Journal“Myths die hard no matter how often they are refuted, and this splendid essay collection, edited by Numbers and Kampourakis, tackles many of the most prevalent and destructive myths about science… The book’s real value lies in the way that each author not only refutes a myth, but traces its origins and points out why it has lasted so long; each brief, well-written essay―they average eight pages―gives the historical context and explains the relevant science.”―Publishers Weekly (starred review)“Myths about science, including its history and practice, abound among the general public, scientists, and science teachers…This book will be a surprising read for the general audience and even scientists; it is a must read for science educators.”―P. D. Skiff, Choice About the Author Ronald L. Numbers is Hilldale Professor Emeritus of the History of Science and Medicine at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.Kostas Kampourakis is Scientific Collaborator, Section of Biology and University Teacher Training Institute, University of Geneva.

Reviews from Amazon users which were colected at the time this book was published on the website:

⭐A brilliant book that successfully destroys many of myths that secularists tell us. You know the kind of stories I’m referring to: Good Galileo – Bad Church or Good Darwin – Bad backward science. These essays demolish these simplified propaganda tracts. They have all been written by scholars from reputable universities and from a variety of disciplinary approaches. I suspect that these other user-reviews that do not like Newton’s Apple, dislike it because it does not fall down and kiss the feet of this naturalistic/physicalist paradigm. The essay on the myth of the scientific method is worth the price of the book alone. I highly recommend it!

⭐If you are really into the history of science, this is a good book. It is a little redundant and just a little too obscure. There are probably some other and better myths to debunk, but it wasn’t my choice! I enjoyed the book and would certainly recommend it to student of the history of science. It is interesting.

⭐not an interesting read

⭐Really not very good, although there are some worthwhile essays. The first problem is the title: Newton being inspired to think about gravity by observing an apple fall is not really a myth, unless you think that Newton lied about it. He told the story on at least four occasions. It is true that seeing the apple fall did not inspire the theory of gravity to spring forth fully formed in a flash of inspiration, but the incident can hardly be called a myth.The major problem with the book are the several essays related to supposedly debunking the myth that religion and science are not somehow in conflict. They are and they aren’t. Religion relies on a way of thinking that is very different from science, so in that sense they are incompatible. For the millennium or so when religion was the dominant force in Western culture, religion was not so much antipathetic to science as apathetic. It was primarily concerned with supernatural and theological matters and natural subjects were simply not of interest. In that sense, there was no actual conflict. However, when natural philosophers encroached on matters where the theologians had pronounced on matters concerning the natural world, conflict did indeed occur, and in every case history has proved theology wrong.Unfortunately for the reader, the very worst of the essays is encountered early on. Michael Keas (who hails from a Texas Christian college) contorts himself trying to prove that Copernican heliocentrism did not represent a demotion of humanity from the special focus of creation. Nonsense. He also tries to argue (based on Elaine Ecklund’s work) that scientists who express feelings of awe or wonder at the natural world are somehow “spiritual” and that somehow equates to them being “religious.” More nonsense.Other essays propound as “myths” very fine differences of viewpoint. Most historians of science and educated laypeople understand William Paley’s design argument as a theological position. Surely no one (as Adam Shapiro argues) misconstrues Paley’s “Natural Theology” as a scientific work – yet Shapiro presents that as a myth to be debunked.At the other end of the spectrum are some fairly well presented discussions of the difference between science as presented in textbooks or for the general public and science as understood by experts in the field. David Rudge’s essay on Peppered Moth melanism is particularly good in this regard.Overall, the collection of essays is of moderate interest to those who like the history of science. Unfortunately, the essays are of highly variable quality and, in my opinion, not worth the time to read them. As is typical of collections of papers repackaged as a book, there is little cohesion. In many cases the “myths” presented rest on fine differences of understanding that the educated layman will find uninteresting.

⭐This is an excellent book looking at a number of claims that have been made about science throughout the centuries. Many of these claims are taught even in textbooks today, but they really don’t bear any semblance with reality. Some are complete nonsense. Others have a grain of truth, but they’re mixed in with a great deal of error.I knew the book was going to start off well when it had the first myth being that Christianity held back the progress of science. To give an example of someone postulating the myth, they quote someone and I won’t say who he is, but I will say he’s a certain unemployed polyamorous prominent internet blogger who’s banned from Skepticon. At that point, I knew I was going to like this one.The book also deals with other myths I found personally interesting such as that Columbus refuted the idea that the Earth is flat or that science and religion have always been at conflict. These are myths that have so permeated our society that it’s hard to find people who disagree with them and consider it something that all educated people know. Well, no. A lot of educated people know just the opposite.Others that caught my attention were the idea that there really is no scientific method. So many people claim to go by one, but there are vast and different fields in the scientific enterprise and no one method works for all of them. Get in a room with ten scientists and ask them to describe the scientific method they use and you’ll likely get eleven different opinions.Another one was that there is not a wide gap between science and pseudoscience. Many ideas have been popular in science history and are pseudoscience today. It’s hard to really set out a line on what constitutes real science and what doesn’t. Even if you have falsifiability as one, then many end-times speculations and faith healings and such could be considered real science. (I do believe that there are actual miraculous healings, but I think many of the so-called faith healers are frauds.)Another interesting aspect was a chapter about Paley. Paley in his watch was pointing more to teleology than internal make-up. Darwin only mentioned Paley once in his massive work and even then it was favorable. Much of what we call ID today would not be at all what Paley had in mind.Other readers will find many other aspects interesting, especially if they’re interested in the sciences, but if you’re not, those chapters can be confusing. Some are historically enlightening, such as that the launch of Sputnik did not create a battle cry to start upping our science education. I recommend those who are curious to just look at the book on Amazon and see what myths are covered in there and if that is something that is of interest to you.It’s also amazing how many scientists fall for these myths. Many scientists are great at science, but they are not great at history and philosophy and they went through school likely being taught these myths and it wasn’t the main focus of their education and they saw no reason to question them. Unfortunately, now they are propogators of those myths and it’s up to the historians and those of us interested in science to set the record straight.This is a very enjoyable read. I often enjoy reading not so much about science itself, but the philosophy and history behind it. Ronald Numbers has had his hand in a number of great books like this and I look forward to more coming.In Christ,Nick PetersDeeper Waters Apologetics

⭐Short essays covering a variety of popular myths about science. They range widely in quality … some clear and revelatory, others vague and muddled. There is a lot to learn from this book, although a more compelling writing style would bring me back to reread it more often.

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