I'm Rereading a Classic Book on Scientific Thinking

G’day. Just yesterday, a book I’d ordered finally came in, a reprint of the second edition of W.I.B. Beveridge’s “The Art of Scientific Investigation,” a major influence on my thinking about science, and a principle reason I don’t take seriously claims that it is a fatally broken, dogmatic religion or a political special interest, ironically much like the ideologies of those who don’t like the science…

…We humans do tend to project our own motives and thinking on those endeavors we understand the least, especially when we are all-too outspoken in our opinions of politics or religion, and so least cognizant of the biases we all possess and to which we are all subject when we aren’t careful.

I’ve read a well-worn copy of the 1st edition of the book already, and I’ve started on the new copy, due for a full book review within a week or so. This book has been a major resource for my blogging on this site, and it’s an invaluable asset to anyone interested in beginning research work in the sciences, emphasizing both the rational and intuitive aspects of research — the thinking and imaginative work that goes into conceiving, formulating, testing, and the assessment of scientific ideas using all the faculties of the human mind together — this is one reason I find myself unable to understand the nigh-alien thinking of people who argue that science involves no creativity — Nonsense! Utter nonsense, I say, and I’ll show why when my first rereading is done, come next Wednesday.

Stat cool, and stay brilliant!

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