![]() If we select four fundamental causes of changes in our perceptions of the world in the last century, then they would be first relativity, second quantum mechanics, third the expanding universe and fourth, the space programme. As Muriel Rukeyser wrote, ‘The universe is made of stories, not of atoms’ see also Impey. This chapter explores some ways in which this happens. Cosmology therefore both impacts culture and is described and represented by it. Cosmologists often rely on the fascination the subject brings: as Rowe observed in his textbook way back in 1968, ‘In the fields of astronomy and cosmology we live in a period of excitement’. This chapter introduces this wider context on the basis that both scientists and the public should be aware of the broader importance of their work and its influence on the way we think. However, most cosmologists focus on scientific questions and are not fully aware of the impact of cosmological theories on culture, including politics and the arts. It is a demonstration of the power of modern science to transform our understanding of who we are and where we came from. Modern scientific cosmology is valuable in itself for what it reveals about the nature of the cosmos we inhabit.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |