Elegance in Science: The beauty of simplicity

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Ian Glynn (Emeritus Professor of Physiology at Cambridge and a Fellow of the Royal Society)

Elegance in Science

Name: Elegance in Science
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ISBN: 9780199668816

The beauty of simplicity

Ian Glynn (Emeritus Professor of Physiology at Cambridge and a Fellow of the Royal Society)

$33.95

Paperback

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English

Oxford University Press
14 February 2013

Mathematics & Sciences; Mathematics; Philosophy of science; History of science; Popular science

The idea of elegance in science is not necessarily a familiar one, but it is an important one. The use of the term is perhaps most clear-cut in mathematics - the elegant proof - and this is where Ian Glynn begins his exploration. Scientists often share a sense of admiration and excitement on hearing of an elegant solution to a problem, an elegant theory, or an elegant experiment. The idea of elegance may seem strange in a field of endeavour that prides itself in its objectivity, but only if science is regarded as a dull, dry activity of counting and measuring. It is, of course, far more than that, and elegance is a fundamental aspect of the beauty and imagination involved in scientific activity. Ian Glynn, a distinguished scientist, selects historical examples from a range of sciences to draw out the principles of science, including Kepler's Laws, the experiments that demonstrated the nature of heat, and the action of nerves, and of course the several extraordinary episodes that led to Watson and Crick's discovery of the structure of DNA. With a highly readable selection of inspiring episodes highlighting the role of beauty and simplicity in the sciences, the book also relates to important philosophical issues of inference, and Glynn ends by warning us not to rely on beauty and simplicity alone - even the most elegant explanation can be wrong.

By: Ian Glynn (Emeritus Professor of Physiology at Cambridge and a Fellow of the Royal Society)
Imprint: Oxford University Press
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 195mm, Width: 135mm, Spine: 18mm
Weight: 226g
ISBN: 9780199668816
ISBN 10: 0199668817
Pages: 304
Publication Date: 14 February 2013
Audience: College/higher education , Professional and scholarly , A / AS level , Further / Higher Education
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Reviews for Elegance in Science: The beauty of simplicity

...there is a wealth of historical information packed in here. Times Literary Supplement An erudite book...Well illustrated and full of historical anecdote and background, this is an elegant volume indeed. Serge Daan, Nature