Search found 445 matches
- Thu Apr 05, 2012 11:27 pm
- Forum: The Structure of Scientific Revolutions - by Thomas S. Kuhn
- Topic: Chapter 1 - Introduction: A Role for History
- Replies: 13
- Views: 13585
Re: Chapter 1 - Introduction: A Role for History
Thanks, Robert. I wandered onto this site for the first time in months and noticed that you were discussing an interesting book that I read many years ago. As a Ph.D. in physics, I can tell you that quantum mechanics was an even larger paradigm shift than relativity. Einstein's famous "God does...
- Sun Apr 01, 2012 12:45 am
- Forum: Current Events & History
- Topic: Will the U.S. go bankrupt if Obama is reelected?
- Replies: 9
- Views: 4607
Re: Will the U.S. go bankrupt if Obama is reelected?
Keep in mind the cause of the deficit. There was a budget deficit throughout the Bush administration, mainly because of the Bush tax cuts. The economic collapse, the worst since the Great Depression, made the deficit skyrocket for two reasons: less tax revenue and increased social spending due to mo...
- Sun Apr 01, 2012 12:05 am
- Forum: Current Events & History
- Topic: Revenge killings for Koran Burning
- Replies: 15
- Views: 6494
Re: Revenge killings for Koran Burning
I'm pessimistic about the US ever being able to improve the situation in Afghanistan. After all, US troops have been there for a decade, and things have been stagnating for a while. Why would things turn around at this stage? Though I'm no fan of Islam, it's simplistic to blame Islam exclusively for...
- Sat Mar 31, 2012 11:36 pm
- Forum: The Structure of Scientific Revolutions - by Thomas S. Kuhn
- Topic: Chapter 1 - Introduction: A Role for History
- Replies: 13
- Views: 13585
Re: Chapter 1 - Introduction: A Role for History
As far as physics is concerned, I wonder if Kuhn is like a general preparing to fight the last war? There have been no real paradigm shifts as far as I am aware within physics since Einstein. Actually, there were two major paradigm shifts in the early 20th century: relativity and quantum mechanics....
- Fri Jul 22, 2011 2:16 am
- Forum: Current Events & History
- Topic: Republican leadership makes it clear. "No compromise."
- Replies: 11
- Views: 4908
Re: Republican leadership makes it clear. "No compromise."
Were liberals less willing to compromise, the country might be more divisive, but the resulting policies would be more ethical and the population would be better off. If only it were so. Unfortunately, when liberals refuse to compromise, and conservatives refuse to compromise, nothing gets done, wh...
- Mon Jul 18, 2011 10:47 pm
- Forum: What are you currently reading?
- Topic: "In the Woods" by Tana French
- Replies: 2
- Views: 1930
Re: "In the Woods" by Tana French
I read Tana French's novel The Likeness a couple of years ago. I really enjoyed the first half of it, in terms of the writing and the situations she set up. The second half wasn't as good, but it's still worth reading. However, I wasn't enthusiastic enough to buy another of her novels.
- Sun Jul 17, 2011 10:15 pm
- Forum: What are you currently reading?
- Topic: Just finished reading...
- Replies: 14
- Views: 6623
Re: Just finished reading...
I just finished The Coldest War, David Halmberstam's book about the Korean War. It's an excellent and well-written book, which is good since it's probably the only book I'll ever read on the subject.
- Sat Jul 16, 2011 11:34 am
- Forum: Current Events & History
- Topic: American Exceptionalism
- Replies: 25
- Views: 13240
Re: American Exceptionalism
The recent Republican comments about American exceptionalism were a response to the following statement of Obama's: "I believe in American exceptionalism, just as I suspect that the Brits believe in British exceptionalism and the Greeks believe in Greek exceptionalism. I'm enormously proud of m...
- Wed May 25, 2011 2:19 am
- Forum: Science & Technology
- Topic: Multiverse/Infinity Questions
- Replies: 8
- Views: 4104
Re: Multiverse/Infinity Questions
Theoretical physics is based on some very abstract mathematical ideas. The concept of infinity is much simpler than many of the other mathematical formulations you need to grasp to understand advanced physics. To understand the Greene quote, consider the following statement. In any group of 400 peop...
- Sun May 15, 2011 7:43 pm
- Forum: What non-fiction book should we read and discuss next?
- Topic: Non-Fiction Suggestions for our July, August and September 2011 discussion
- Replies: 21
- Views: 12409
Re: Non-Fiction Suggestions for our July, August and September 2011 discussion
Earlier today I found the following book in the bookstore. I've read two other books by Hochschild, both of which were excellent. To End All Wars: A Story of Loyalty and Rebellion, 1914-1918 by Adam Hochschild http://www.amazon.com/End-All-Wars-Rebellion-1914-1918/dp/0618758283 World War I stands as...