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So the Economist's point is that a "research" project exploring an idea about the universe which has been known to be incorrect for centuries somehow proves the

by T-A 13y ago

So the Economist's point is that a "research" project exploring an idea about the universe which has been known to be incorrect for centuries somehow proves the value of the humanities? Really?

dang 13y ago
Please let's keep to the intellectually substantive topic, not the shortest path from there to a flamewar. The substantive topic is the historical material, and history is welcome on Hacker News. In fact, it's a protected species—we don't have nearly enough of it.
- Uhhrrr 13y ago
  Yeah, but the creation of more is pretty much a given.
feelthepain 13y ago
I think their point is that you can gain some fascinating insights about science in history when different disciplines work together. Hardly a radical insight though I agree. But that's not why I posted the article, which is mostly describing the cool research rather well.
pessimizer 13y ago
If there's anything that characterizes the editorial line of the Economist philosophically, it's begging the question.
14113 13y ago
Yes. It provides a lot of information about the history of science. Most importantly, Grosseteste was one of the first to use what we now think of as the scientific method, and (I believe) the first to suggest a 'big bang like' start to the universe. He's essential in the history of science for introducing aristotalean traditions and ideas, to the scientific discourse at the time, as well as being one of the early founders of science. For that reason at least he's well worth studying, and especially his ideas, which are very close to what we have now. What the science researchers are doing is helping the historians formalise his ideas in todays language and notations so that their similarities can be seen with todays ideas. Source: I worked on this project over last summer as a computer science student visualising his explanation for the start of the universe.

by T-A 13y ago

So the Economist's point is that a "research" project exploring an idea about the universe which has been known to be incorrect for centuries somehow proves the value of the humanities? Really?

dang 13y ago

Please let's keep to the intellectually substantive topic, not the shortest path from there to a flamewar. The substantive topic is the historical material, and history is welcome on Hacker News. In fact, it's a protected species—we don't have nearly enough of it.

Uhhrrr 13y ago
Yeah, but the creation of more is pretty much a given.

feelthepain 13y ago

I think their point is that you can gain some fascinating insights about science in history when different disciplines work together. Hardly a radical insight though I agree. But that's not why I posted the article, which is mostly describing the cool research rather well.

pessimizer 13y ago

If there's anything that characterizes the editorial line of the Economist philosophically, it's begging the question.

14113 13y ago

Yes. It provides a lot of information about the history of science. Most importantly, Grosseteste was one of the first to use what we now think of as the scientific method, and (I believe) the first to suggest a 'big bang like' start to the universe. He's essential in the history of science for introducing aristotalean traditions and ideas, to the scientific discourse at the time, as well as being one of the early founders of science. For that reason at least he's well worth studying, and especially his ideas, which are very close to what we have now. What the science researchers are doing is helping the historians formalise his ideas in todays language and notations so that their similarities can be seen with todays ideas. Source: I worked on this project over last summer as a computer science student visualising his explanation for the start of the universe.