Dear Professor Dyson: Twenty Years Of Correspondence Between Freeman Dyson And Undergraduate Students On Science, Technology, Society And Life

by Dwight E. Neuenschwander (Editor)

Overview

Freeman Dyson has designed nuclear reactors and bomb-powered spacecraft; he has studied the origins of life and the possibilities for the long-term future; he showed quantum mechanics to be consistent with electrodynamics and started cosmological eschatology; he has won international recognition for his work in science and for his work in reconciling science to religion; he has advised generals and congressional committees. An STS (Science, Technology, Society) curriculum or discussion group that engages topics such as nuclear policies, genetic technologies, environmental sustainability, the role of religion in a scientific society, and a hard look towards the future, would count itself privileged to include Professor Dyson as a class participant and mentor. In this book, STS topics are not discussed as objectified abstractions, but through personal stories.The reader is invited to observe Dyson's influence on a generation of young people as they wrestle with issues of science, technology, society, life in general and our place in the universe. The book is filled with personal anecdotes, student questions and responses, honest doubts and passions.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9789814675840
Publisher:	World Scientific Publishing Company, Incorporated
Publication date:	05/20/2016
Pages:	436
Product dimensions:	6.30(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.50(d)

About the Author

Walking with Grandfather; Living in the Questions; A Hexagonal Mountain; Martha and Mary; Engines With Souls; Steered From Afar; The Swamp Angel; Rapid Rupture; Arsenals of Folly; To Touch the Face of the Stars; Silence; The Chainsaw and the White Oak; "Why Should I Care?"; Playing God; Bonds of Kinship; Two Windows; Doubt and Faith; Dreams of Earth and Sky; Family First;

Table of Contents

Introduction vii

Acknowledgments ix

1 Walking with Grandfather: Letters of Introduction 1

2 Living in the Questions: Real Questions Having Few Answers 10

3 A Hexagonal Mountain: Three Reasons to Hate Science, Three Reasons to Love It 37

4 Martha and Mary: Advice to Young People Choosing Their Life's Work 57

5 Engines with Souls: Discussions about Our Machines 84

6 Steered from Afar: Conversations about Identity and Conformity 103

7 The Swamp Angel: Letters on Ends and Means 116

8 Rapid Rupture: Letters about Nuclear Weapons 138

9 Arsenals of Folly: Correspondence on the Militarization of the Economy 165

10 To Touch the Face of the Stars: Letters on Our Place, in the Universe 194

11 Silence: On Seeking Serenity and Peace of Mind 212

12 The Chainsaw and the White Oak: Letters about the Environment 222

13 Why Should I Care?": Discussions about Values and Ethics 248

14 Playing God: Letters on Genetic Engineering 266

15 Bonds of Kinship: Thoughts on Relationships 286

16 Two Windows: Letters on Science, and Religion 311

17 Doubt and Faith: More Letters on Science, Religion, and Honesty 328

18 Dreams of Earth and Sky: Thoughts on Meaning 349

19 Family First: Letters on Priorities 372

Bibliography 385

Index 393