We must bandtogether to get thru all this!! Your writings help so much. As a 24 hr caregiver I don't have the ability to march but I donate what little I can and email my republican congressmen as I am in Florida in a very red area. Moving is not an option. Also my spouse went down the rabbit hole and I can not discuss things due to beginning dementia along with a myriad of other health issues. Substack has been a lifeline for me. Thank you
I'm sorry to hear of your struggles Teri! I'm glad to provide what relief I can. Maybe you can make it to one of the video chats, the next one is next Friday. I find it's very helpful for me to talk with likeminded people. Anything you do is helpful, even holding the light of truth alive within yourself. Don't underestimate that!
It's human nature built into our psyche to believe the world revolves around us. In fact, that's how we begin our lives on this planet. It's also unfortunately built into many of us to blame others for our mistakes and shortcomings (a form of ego defense). Accepting that we're not the center of the universe and that sometimes we just were wrong or messed up takes a form of moral honesty that most don't seem to have.
Sad but true. It takes effort and a desire to confirm or investigate before accepting something as gospel; that's where higher education is important, to teach people deductive reasoning, the scientific process, thoughtfulness, suspicion (without paranoia), and circumspection (not to mention introspection that one learns about in Psychology 101).
Walter, this is an excellent post again. I would react to your remembrance of Math and Physics at school. I loved those parts of the curricula, and no wonder I have my Ph.D from electron physics. At the same time, reading statistics on which subjects were most hated by the majority of students made me sad. It was always Math and Physics. How come? If we look at the most damaging "theories", they have an adjective: "conspiracy". It leads not to learning but fooling.
What a fascinating field of study! I picked up a minor in Physics, but then I moved on to Peru to learn Spanish. I suppose it's just the complexity of Math and Physics that students object to, but it truly is a field that stimulates the mind. Thanks for the kind words!
I will visit a couple, very, very close to my heart. They are approaching 90. Arpad, the husband, taught me theoretical electro-magnetics in part time, and Ildiko was a colleague of mine in Professor Simonyi's department. Ildiko was the editor of Simonyi’s phenomenal book: “The CulturaI History of Physics.” Arpad was Simonyi’s co-author of the last edition of “Electron Physics”.
By the way, they are the god parents of my son Zsolt Jr.
I knew, I cannot step into their house without something in my hands. The flowers to Ildiko is fine, but it is not enough.
Before yesterday I bumped into an old photograph of the famous Solvay conference (1928, I think) with all the heroes there. Einstein, Marie Slodowska Curie, Dirac, Schrödinger, Heisenberg, Pauli, Bohr…and many more. I knew this picture, I saw it a million times, in less than mediocre photographic quality.
This one is sharp and color(ed). I will have it blown up, printed and framed in two copiess. One goes on my wall, the second on theirs.
I have all four editions of The Cultural History of Physics on the bookshelf beside my bed. One of them was signed for me by Dirac next to his Portrait in the book, in his home after midnight. Earlier in the day, my ambassador handed him the Honorary Membership diploma from the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. Her Hungarian wife, Manci Wigner (Eugene Wigner’s sister), was serving a fine cognac before saying goodbye to my idol. Since the books are at arm's length, I reach out occasionally and read or just browse the pictures and the formulae. It helps me to have a good, peaceful sleep.
We must bandtogether to get thru all this!! Your writings help so much. As a 24 hr caregiver I don't have the ability to march but I donate what little I can and email my republican congressmen as I am in Florida in a very red area. Moving is not an option. Also my spouse went down the rabbit hole and I can not discuss things due to beginning dementia along with a myriad of other health issues. Substack has been a lifeline for me. Thank you
I'm sorry to hear of your struggles Teri! I'm glad to provide what relief I can. Maybe you can make it to one of the video chats, the next one is next Friday. I find it's very helpful for me to talk with likeminded people. Anything you do is helpful, even holding the light of truth alive within yourself. Don't underestimate that!
Very helpful thoughts for this unrepenting scientist.and humanist. Thanks.
I'm glad to hear it!
It's human nature built into our psyche to believe the world revolves around us. In fact, that's how we begin our lives on this planet. It's also unfortunately built into many of us to blame others for our mistakes and shortcomings (a form of ego defense). Accepting that we're not the center of the universe and that sometimes we just were wrong or messed up takes a form of moral honesty that most don't seem to have.
It takes education and rational thinking to overcome these things. Unfortunately, it's easier to fan the flames of rage and grievance.
Sad but true. It takes effort and a desire to confirm or investigate before accepting something as gospel; that's where higher education is important, to teach people deductive reasoning, the scientific process, thoughtfulness, suspicion (without paranoia), and circumspection (not to mention introspection that one learns about in Psychology 101).
Goes back to that old adage: “A lie is easier and quicker to believe than the truth”
Yup!
Walter, this is an excellent post again. I would react to your remembrance of Math and Physics at school. I loved those parts of the curricula, and no wonder I have my Ph.D from electron physics. At the same time, reading statistics on which subjects were most hated by the majority of students made me sad. It was always Math and Physics. How come? If we look at the most damaging "theories", they have an adjective: "conspiracy". It leads not to learning but fooling.
What a fascinating field of study! I picked up a minor in Physics, but then I moved on to Peru to learn Spanish. I suppose it's just the complexity of Math and Physics that students object to, but it truly is a field that stimulates the mind. Thanks for the kind words!
I will visit a couple, very, very close to my heart. They are approaching 90. Arpad, the husband, taught me theoretical electro-magnetics in part time, and Ildiko was a colleague of mine in Professor Simonyi's department. Ildiko was the editor of Simonyi’s phenomenal book: “The CulturaI History of Physics.” Arpad was Simonyi’s co-author of the last edition of “Electron Physics”.
By the way, they are the god parents of my son Zsolt Jr.
I knew, I cannot step into their house without something in my hands. The flowers to Ildiko is fine, but it is not enough.
Before yesterday I bumped into an old photograph of the famous Solvay conference (1928, I think) with all the heroes there. Einstein, Marie Slodowska Curie, Dirac, Schrödinger, Heisenberg, Pauli, Bohr…and many more. I knew this picture, I saw it a million times, in less than mediocre photographic quality.
This one is sharp and color(ed). I will have it blown up, printed and framed in two copiess. One goes on my wall, the second on theirs.
That's lovely :)
🙏
I have all four editions of The Cultural History of Physics on the bookshelf beside my bed. One of them was signed for me by Dirac next to his Portrait in the book, in his home after midnight. Earlier in the day, my ambassador handed him the Honorary Membership diploma from the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. Her Hungarian wife, Manci Wigner (Eugene Wigner’s sister), was serving a fine cognac before saying goodbye to my idol. Since the books are at arm's length, I reach out occasionally and read or just browse the pictures and the formulae. It helps me to have a good, peaceful sleep.