Recently, I have been pondering the phenomena of rekindled interests. For years, I loved the hard sciences, particularly astronomy and chemistry. Never really dug physics per se, but was more than capable and found some concepts to be interesting (e.g. Newtonian mechanics, light, etc...). But over time, the interest faded and I moved into sociology, theology, etc...
About six months ago, the old flame began to emit some sparks again. I found myself watching documentaries on outer space. Following that, I began to find myself looking up at the stars, wondering about things I had wondered about in years. Now, for Christmas, all I want is two things: (1) a telescope, and (2) Richard Fenyman's Easy and Not So Easy Pieces, a landmark collection of twelve lectures on physics. Moreover, I've been reading God, Time and Stephen Hawking, a book about Einstein's Theory of Relativity, quantum mechanics, chaos theory and a the search for a unifying theory of quantum gravity.
What the heck?
About six months ago, the old flame began to emit some sparks again. I found myself watching documentaries on outer space. Following that, I began to find myself looking up at the stars, wondering about things I had wondered about in years. Now, for Christmas, all I want is two things: (1) a telescope, and (2) Richard Fenyman's Easy and Not So Easy Pieces, a landmark collection of twelve lectures on physics. Moreover, I've been reading God, Time and Stephen Hawking, a book about Einstein's Theory of Relativity, quantum mechanics, chaos theory and a the search for a unifying theory of quantum gravity.
What the heck?
posted by Just a Few Things about Scott ... | 10:36 AM
3 Comments:
I dunno--I'm doing the same thing. Maybe it's just a part of maturity, or perhaps a couple of people trying to ward off insanity by keeping the gerbil residing in our brain constantly active.
You guys know that I've gotten heavily into WWII, but I've also listened to any number of Feynman books (including your lecture series). Thomas Sowell has a great book on economics, and I did read an Einstein biography exploring the evolution of his special theory.
Sounds like we're on the same page, actually. We're keeping life interesting.
Like right now--I'm reading the Shelby Foote civil war series. (It's MASSIVE.) Learning all kinds of useless facts... Such as how Jefferson Davis challenged his first father-in-law to a dual. (15 paces with pistols filled w/ buckshot.) And that Abe L couldn't stop in Baltimore on his way to DC because he was about to get lynched.
What I've found is that the following:
(1) Science is a methodology for data acquisition. Science is a methodology used to discover reality. Which is unfortunate, because people mislabel the concept of "science" to mean "the science of X" and "the science of Y." Science isn't a topic, it's a process.
2. I'm studying the science of (insert many fields here) to keep life interesting.
3. I'm finding that the use of science to discover and better appreciate reality is a means to an end of appreciating God's creation. So for me, it's spiritual.
Scott,
To what extent do you think this resurgence of intellectual curiosity came from having children? I can already see me totally getting into things, either all over again or for the first time, when I have a curious child to learn with.
Speaking of new-found interests... if you had told me ten years ago that this would be on my Amazon Wish List, I would not have believed you. But I would very much like to be able to talk intelligently about our Constitution and why it is as awesome as it is. And I want to read primary sources; I've gotten to a point where I don't trust anyone currently living to give it to me straight anymore. Those people were actively engaged in fighting every day for their lives, the lives of their family members for generations to come, and their freedom. That was their "bias".
This looks like a cool book, Matt. It reminds me of how Shelby Foot is saying that the southern states would use "states rights" as their (offensive) "spear", and constitution as their "shield" (relative to national politics immediately before the Civil War). Without a doubt, the way in which the role of government is viewed has changed and morphed over time.
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