tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8212356.post723972338103322650..comments2023-11-19T00:42:48.156-08:00Comments on balancing life: On the shoulders of giantsSunilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07776658071546232685noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8212356.post-30574712557968567992007-08-31T07:01:00.000-07:002007-08-31T07:01:00.000-07:00Ouch....yes it is Gribbin. I just had a review of...Ouch....yes it is Gribbin. I just had a review of his book "The scientists", <A HREF="http://balancinglife.blogspot.com/2007/08/book-review-scientists.html" REL="nofollow">here</A>, and you will enjoy reading it.Sunilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07776658071546232685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8212356.post-74536233071427168432007-08-30T18:09:00.000-07:002007-08-30T18:09:00.000-07:00I think it's John Gribbin, by the way, not Gribbon...I think it's John Gribbin, by the way, not Gribbon. He's an excellent science writer, but I have a sneaking suspicion that he's telling the same story again and again. He has already covered the Hooke/ Newton conflict in his really fascinating book "The History of Science", and again in his more recent book about the Royal Society (mental block about the title).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8212356.post-27155089173892884342007-08-18T13:59:00.000-07:002007-08-18T13:59:00.000-07:00Ashutosh.....Hooke's work on microscopy (as part o...Ashutosh.....Hooke's work on microscopy (as part of his work on optics) laid the foundations for all modern cell biology. A giant. The book does touch upon Newton and Leibnitz. But a book covering 500 years of science can only do so much :-). I'll try to review it in a week or two.<BR/><BR/>Veo....I'm very sorry that I ruined the quote for you. But while it isn't ok, it really doesn't take anything away from Newton's astounding achievements. And many pathbreaking scientists are petty or egotistical. But history remembers them for their contributions to science. The rest are considered "collateral damage". It sometimes isn't pretty, is it?<BR/><BR/>renie, thanks. I'll add my blog to the directory.<BR/><BR/>Ashutosh....heh, that is a fantastic quote. May be I should use it more often :-))Sunilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07776658071546232685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8212356.post-85258752792880701462007-08-18T07:54:00.000-07:002007-08-18T07:54:00.000-07:00Oh, and if you have not heard the quote by Hal Abe...Oh, and if you have not heard the quote by Hal Abelson, here it is:<BR/><BR/>If I have not seen as far as others, it is because giants were standing on my shoulders...Wavefunctionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14993805391653267639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8212356.post-55399307037107023672007-08-17T11:18:00.000-07:002007-08-17T11:18:00.000-07:00That is really interesting. It really bothers me t...That is really interesting. It really bothers me the way we often excuse someone's atrocious behaviour with "Oh but they are a great scientist". Doesn't make it okay for me. <BR/><BR/>that quote is forever destroyed for me, poor Hooke.<BR/><BR/>Can't wait to hear about Kekule! Daydreaming on the bus right?Veo Claramentehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15722031682654094793noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8212356.post-58515329562567376202007-08-14T11:09:00.000-07:002007-08-14T11:09:00.000-07:00Yep! Good you wrote about it, and hardly surprisin...Yep! Good you wrote about it, and hardly surprising isn't it!? Newton was simply not a very nice man, and his treatment of Leizniz was despicable by any standards. However, I think you will agree that it still does not take anything away from the statement when examined objectively.<BR/>As you know, Hooke is also credited with the discovery and formal description of the cell. One of the things he did in the Royal Society was "test whether a spider can run out of a circle made out of unicorn horn powder". Someone brought unicorn horn powder (don't ask from where!). Spider did run out.<BR/>Ut tensio sic vis?!Wavefunctionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14993805391653267639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8212356.post-18500603164466716542007-08-14T07:17:00.000-07:002007-08-14T07:17:00.000-07:00Katie.......not much has changed since then, huh? ...Katie.......not much has changed since then, huh? I know plenty of people who have lost out on credit for a lot of things. And it's all very infuriating.<BR/><BR/>Bongopondit.....the book does go a little into Newton and Leibniz. But when a book has to cover 500 years of science, it is hard to go into all those details! I have heard about Baroque cycle from a number of people. And since i'm very fond of historical fiction, i'm pretty sure I'll love it. I must get my hands on it, though I don't know when i'll find the time to read a series as long as that :-)<BR/><BR/>Anonymous....i don't think that is true for a "vast majority" of the successful scientists. I've met every kind, and some of them I know are generous to a fault. So here I'll have to disagree with you, and say that there are plenty of inflated egos and petty characters, but there are still a number of scientists to look up to and admire.Sunilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07776658071546232685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8212356.post-50408559754087710102007-08-14T03:23:00.000-07:002007-08-14T03:23:00.000-07:00I had read about this before in some book. Good to...I had read about this before in some book. Good to have it reaffirmed once again that Newton was not exactly being oh-so-modest.. <BR/><BR/>Well, things are not all that different today. A vast majority of the "successful" scientists, researchers and professors I have come across are small-minded, vengeful, full of spite and have an unmatched craving for personal glory.<BR/><BR/>And it is not just in India that I'm basing my sample upon.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8212356.post-67997541850645205132007-08-12T18:14:00.000-07:002007-08-12T18:14:00.000-07:00Nice write-up - I have to read the book. Does Grib...Nice write-up - I have to read the book. Does Gribbon mention Newton's other famous rivalry - with Leibniz ? <BR/><BR/>Also, I would highly recommend Neal Stephenson's Baroque Cycle. The three books together are about 3000 pages, and the narrative is sometimes laborious, but it is a fascinating historical fiction set in the period when science was 'born' in the early 17th century. Some interesting perspective on the early scientists like Hooke, Wren, Boyle etc. and the famous rivalry between Leibniz and Newton. The intrigues in the European political courts serve as the backdrop.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8212356.post-32021855055743595432007-08-11T15:06:00.000-07:002007-08-11T15:06:00.000-07:00Fascinating! I had no idea. Poor Hooke. I know ...Fascinating! I had no idea. Poor Hooke. I know some people like him and they are all mercilessly used by someone at some point.post-dochttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06493309260165352484noreply@blogger.com