While in the late 1950s and early 1960s the racial differences in the US demanded serious attention, there were other tribal struggles going on in society
There had been a rapid development in physics, especially when matter was understood as atoms and nuclear theories were developed.
Around 1950 there was a huge gap between natural sciences and humanities. They were like two totally different tribes.
Humanities are academic disciplines that study aspects of human society and culture.
The humanities include ancient and modern languages, literature, philosophy, history, human geography, law, politics, religion and art.
The true intellectual was a humanities graduate, who even could be almost ignorant about natural sciences.
It created the weird situation, that in governments, politics, all kinds of committees and policy-making authority, there was hardly any knowledge of physics and technology.
Why was there this gap? Perhaps the most important difference was the scientific method -
the process of empirical observation, rational deduction, and constant adjustment in the light of experience.
As a result, natural scientists were portrayed as rational beings who were not hindered in their work
by personal feelings such as rivalry, ambition or ideology. Only the results counted.
This image was supported by the scientific articles that were published in the scientific journals.
The style of writing was always impersonal, almost anonymous, almost universal formal structure:
problem definition, consideration of existing literature, research, results, conclusion. ln the magazines, science progressed in an orderly step by step.
There was only one problem with this image: it was wrong. It doesn't even approach the truth. Let me present you an example.
On December 23, 1947, John Bardeen and Walter Brattain were working without William Shockley when they succeeded in creating a point-contact transistor that achieved amplification.
Shockley, ambitious and really jealous, publicly took the lion's share of the credit for the invention of transistor;
this led to a deterioration of Bardeen's relationship with Shockley. Bell Labs management, however, consistently presented all three inventors as a team.
Shockley eventually infuriated and alienated Bardeen and Brattain, and he essentially blocked the two from working on the junction transistor.
In 1950 he succeeded in developing a transistor, based on the knowledge of his two colleagues, that was suitable for mass production.
Shockley was a genius, the winner of the 1956 Nobel Prize in Physics with the two other Bell Labs scientists for co-inventing the transistor,
which has been called the most important invention of the 20th century.
Without it, there would be no computers, cell phones or flat-screen TVs. You wouldn't able to read this either, as there would be no Internet.
But Shockley the brilliant scientist had another side. He was a white supremacist and eugenics proponent.
He was convinced that race-based IQ differences existed and spent most of his career after the 1960s promoting his racist theories and a high IQ-sperm bank.
In 1956, William B. Shockley's semiconductor laboratory on San Antonio Road in Mountain View was a small firm developing devices for a new invention, the transistor.
The area is now known as Silicon Valley.
And what did we do with the gap between natural sciences and humanities? What did we inherit from the 20th century here?
I think, the same gap, but the tables are turned. You now look rather dusty, when you say that you are a philosopher, but totally hot when you are a rocket scientist.
Thank you for your attention again......
The Discusssion
[13:20] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): thank you Herman
[13:20] oola Neruda: there were so many breakthroughs then
[13:21] oola Neruda: continental shift for example
[13:21] oola Neruda: many others
[13:21] herman Bergson: what is 'continental shift' , oola?
[13:21] oola Neruda: ethical issues about being allowed to die if you chose.... with a doctor's help
[13:22] herman Bergson: Is my class getting drunk here? :-))))
[13:22] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): yes....very
[13:22] oola Neruda: anti matter as a subject to discuss
[13:22] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): HICK! EHHHHH WHADAYA MEEEEAN HICK!
[13:22] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): lol
[13:22] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): CHEERS! HICK!
[13:22] herman Bergson whispers: oh my....:-0
[13:22] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako) whispers: ㋡
[13:23] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): indeed many scientific breakthroughs here and there
[13:23] CB Axel: If only more Americans understood scientific method.
[13:23] oola Neruda: questions about the war machine and limits
[13:23] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): aaa antimatter is interesting stuff
[13:23] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): 'what shall we do with the drunken classroom..what shall we do with the....
[13:23] oola Neruda: black holes and gravity waves...
[13:23] CB Axel: °͜°
[13:23] CB Axel: Too many people think science is meant to answer questions, but science often creates more questions than it answers.
[13:23] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): hahaha
[13:23] oola Neruda: Bell labs was really into gravity waves then
[13:24] herman Bergson: The interesting issue here is that humanities have lost their first place position
[13:24] herman Bergson: Technology rules the world....
[13:24] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): indeed
[13:24] oola Neruda: nuclear fusion was still not under control
[13:24] CB Axel: Even scientists like the humanities. Many of them are artists and philosophers.
[13:24] herman Bergson: So that is a huge change in relation to the previous century
[13:25] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ah
[13:25] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): much happened then
[13:25] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): were would we be today without technology?
[13:25] herman Bergson: simple Beertje...somewhere else :-)
[13:26] oola Neruda: perhaps we would be more humane
[13:26] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): smiles
[13:26] oola Neruda: more gentle
[13:26] oola Neruda: laid back
[13:26] oola Neruda: ???
[13:26] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): do you realy think so Oola?
[13:26] herman Bergson: who knows oola..I know what you mean
[13:26] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): instead of playing Fortnite 24/7 as some do
[13:26] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): lool
[13:26] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): I'm Sorry! i had a delivery person arrive
[13:26] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): I sorry..
[13:26] oola Neruda: people would be forced to speak face to face...rather than in computers
[13:27] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): computers are useful but sometimes we are a bit too dependent on them
[13:27] herman Bergson: they would use the telephone oola:-)
[13:27] oola Neruda: a voice!!!
[13:27] herman Bergson: or pigeons :-))
[13:27] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): with HUUUUUGE phone bills as a result
[13:27] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): a classic
[13:27] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): lol
[13:27] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): without technology I had never met you all here
[13:28] herman Bergson: So true Beertje
[13:28] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): aa i have met many in here too including you
[13:28] herman Bergson: and we couldnt have congratulate you with your birthday!
[13:28] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): SL is a good example of using technology in a correct way
[13:28] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡
[13:28] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): :) that would be a pity:)
[13:28] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): a god way
[13:28] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): there are many examples
[13:29] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): and we have hanged together for very long now
[13:29] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): sure have
[13:29] herman Bergson: the issue here is the change of attitude towards sciences....
[13:29] herman Bergson: we now are all in favor of natural sciences...
[13:30] CB Axel: I'm all for the sciences, but it's the humanities that bring us together as a species.
[13:30] herman Bergson: Humanities seem to play the second violin
[13:30] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ah
[13:30] oola Neruda: people who make their money put their money before facts... and claim that climate change is not happening...
[13:30] oola Neruda: greed
[13:30] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): like Trump
[13:30] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): and similar ones
[13:30] oola Neruda: yes
[13:30] oola Neruda: oil companies
[13:30] CB Axel: Oola, those people are not interested in the humanities any more than they are interested in science.
[13:30] oola Neruda: the Iraq war was really a private army for the oil industry
[13:31] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): they just want money
[13:31] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): technology gives us a chance to talk about that worldwide Oola
[13:31] CB Axel: They seem to be anti-knowledge in general.
[13:31] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): it is hard but they must be integrated so that those who love the humanities will use the sciences
[13:31] oola Neruda: yes... money uber alles
[13:31] herman Bergson: Sorry..but how is this related to iur subject of today?
[13:31] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): or at least understand them
[13:31] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): there are many theories that tech have already developed many clean technologies but the oil companies buy them up/shuts the dwn so that they will never be realized
[13:31] herman Bergson: \
[13:32] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): if it is a myth or truth i don't know
[13:32] oola Neruda: koch brothers
[13:32] CB Axel: I think everyone needs a basic understanding of science and humanities.
[13:32] herman Bergson: Why are we discussing this?
[13:32] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): shockley still has an impact on some
[13:32] oola Neruda: the changes since the humanities wanned
[13:33] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): indeed there seem to still be a gap between thee 2 areas
[13:33] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): these
[13:33] herman Bergson: Yes...the interesting observation is the change in our culture in relation to the sciences
[13:33] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): big change
[13:33] herman Bergson: and how they are valued
[13:33] CB Axel: But I don't think science is valued.
[13:33] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ah
[13:33] CB Axel: At least not in the US.
[13:34] oola Neruda: agree
[13:34] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): well now
[13:34] CB Axel: We love our technology, but we don't want to understand the science behind it.
[13:34] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): how did we get to the moon
[13:34] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): and thinking about going farther
[13:34] herman Bergson: I think that the natural sciences are closely connected to the economy...production system....so money...
[13:34] CB Axel: People don't have any concept of the scientific method.
[13:34] herman Bergson: what money is there in archeology?
[13:35] CB Axel: None
[13:35] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): its strange that we have not com further in space when the power of a modern pocket calculator could take us to the moon
[13:35] herman Bergson: Right
[13:35] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): but it can be applied to other careers
[13:35] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): but now all money sadly goes to weapons and blowing each other up it seems, then cost is no problem but financing NASA ans similar is NONO
[13:35] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): thinks in education there is now a push for sciences
[13:36] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): Stem sckools
[13:36] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): its strange
[13:36] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): i think science is very important
[13:36] oola Neruda: more money goes into lobbying... i remember senator S. Whitehouse calling out the Senate as t "the house of mamon"... because of the graft
[13:36] CB Axel: Gemma, many are calling for STEAM, the A being for arts.
[13:37] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): hmmm
[13:37] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): put all those weapon money to NASA and similar organizations instead and we will have spaceships a la star trek on no time
[13:37] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): hopefully
[13:37] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): not arround here
[13:37] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): but that is good
[13:37] herman Bergson: What is STEAM?
[13:37] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): the game store?
[13:37] CB Axel: Science Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics.
[13:38] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): stem is science technology engineering and math
[13:38] herman Bergson smiles
[13:38] oola Neruda: an educational plan
[13:38] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): aaa ok
[13:38] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): arts is added
[13:38] herman Bergson: Yes Bejiita..I relate that term to that too :-)
[13:38] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate) GIGGLES!!
[13:38] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ...LOL...
[13:38] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): oh yes
[13:38] CB Axel: STEM is fine if all you want to do it produce little machines instead of well rounded people.
[13:38] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡ a classic since log
[13:39] herman Bergson: Some US educational plan?
[13:39] oola Neruda: CB... i think it depends upon who is running the program
[13:39] herman Bergson: STEAM?
[13:39] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): u can make a steam engine using STEAM for sure
[13:39] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡
[13:40] oola Neruda: some people are invested in it and others are just worn out
[13:40] herman Bergson: Well....
[13:40] oola Neruda: a lot depends upon the neighborhood too... some places, the crime etc. keeps people from learning...
[13:41] herman Bergson: I guess that in realtion to the 20th century in science the tables are turned
[13:41] Guestboook van tipjar stand: Gemma Cleanslate donated L$50. Thank you very much, it is much appreciated!
[13:41] oola Neruda: and they pay for school supplies by their district... so schools have different brdgets
[13:41] herman Bergson: natural science = 1, humanities = 2 after many many centuries
[13:41] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): perhaps it will even out
[13:41] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): in the future
[13:42] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ah
[13:42] herman Bergson: This has a meaning on how we see life..!
[13:42] oola Neruda: and if we cooperate
[13:43] oola Neruda: climate change is going to change more than the temperature and storms...there will be major sociological shifts...the army has their own films out on that subject already
[13:43] herman Bergson: That at this moment our life is dominated by technology....
[13:43] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): too bad the top does not believe in it
[13:43] herman Bergson: Ever been in a railway station...?
[13:43] herman Bergson: How many peole are looking at their smart phones
[13:43] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): every where people sit
[13:43] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate) GIGGLES!!
[13:43] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ...LOL...
[13:44] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡
[13:44] herman Bergson: 11 out of 10 :-)
[13:44] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): doctor office
[13:44] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): chasing pokemon
[13:44] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡
[13:44] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): restaurant
[13:44] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): everywhere
[13:44] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): indeed
[13:44] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): walking around staring down on the screen until stumbling into a fountain or bumping into a door or light pole
[13:44] herman Bergson: That is what we inversly inherited from the 20th century
[13:45] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): seen many of those
[13:45] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): yes
[13:45] CB Axel: I spent a lot of time in airports last week. If I didn't have a phone to look at, I would have been looking at a book. What's the difference?
[13:45] herman Bergson: Just think about it....
[13:45] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): true
[13:45] oola Neruda: depends upon the book
[13:45] herman Bergson: the book CB.....your imagination at work will reading
[13:46] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): people sitting next to each other just staring down into their phones not even talking with each other
[13:46] CB Axel: Then you're looking at the wrong things on your phone. :-)
[13:46] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): hehe
[13:46] CB Axel: I don't talk to strangers in a waiting room, Bejiita.
[13:46] CB Axel: Not usually, any way.
[13:46] oola Neruda: I'm with you CB
[13:47] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): well bej i really never talked much to people in the airports
[13:47] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate) GIGGLES!!
[13:47] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ...LOL...
[13:47] herman Bergson: Neither do I :-))
[13:47] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): no but this seemed to be a group of friends
[13:47] herman Bergson: Hate them...wished I was the only one in the waiting room :-))
[13:47] CB Axel: I almost punched the woman next to me on one flight. If I wasn't immersed in my tablet I would have.
[13:47] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): well
[13:47] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate) GIGGLES!!
[13:47] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ...LOL...
[13:47] oola Neruda: lol
[13:47] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): hahaha
[13:48] herman Bergson: Well...I won't keep you waiting....
[13:48] herman Bergson: Class dismissed ^_^
[13:48] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ♥ Thank Youuuuuuuuuu!! ♥
[13:48] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡
[13:48] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): nice again
[13:48] herman Bergson: Thank you all again :-)
[13:48] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡
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