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Words for Things
| Content Provider | Scilit |
|---|---|
| Author | Day, Peter |
| Copyright Year | 2020 |
| Description | Book Name: The Philosopher's Tree |
| Abstract | Faraday’s formal education ceased at the age of 13, in 1804, when he was apprenticed to the bookseller and bookbinder Mr Riebau. It is not surprising, therefore, that his knowledge of mathematics was rudimentary, and remained so throughout his life. Indeed, it is unlikely to have stretched much beyond simple arithmetic and though his notes contained geometrical diagrams (for example the lines of induction around magnetised bodies), there is no evidence that he was capable of drawing quantitative conclusions from them. Among the earliest of his protestations about his handicap in comprehending mathematical reasoning comes in a letter to the French physicist Andre-Marie Ampere in 1822. Still, he takes refuge in the primacy of experiment fact, regarding mathematics as a navigational compass of uncertain efficacy: I am unfortunate in a want of mathematical knowledge and the power of entering with facility into abstract reasoning. I am obliged to feel my way by facts closely placed together, so that it often happens I am left behind in the progress of a branch of science (not merely from the want of attention) but from the incapability I lay under of following it, notwithstanding all my exertions. It is just now so, I am ashamed to say, with your refined researches on electromagnetism or electrodynamics. On reading your papers and letters, I have no difficulty in following the reasoning, but 97still at last I seem to want something more on which to steady the conclusions. I fancy the habit I got into of attending too closely to experiment has somewhat fettered my powers of reasoning, and chains me down, and I cannot help now and then comparing myself to a timid ignorant navigator who (though he might boldly and safely steer across a bay or an ocean by the aid of a compass which in its actions and principles is infallible) is afraid to leave sight of the shore because he understands not the power of the instrument that is to guide him. With regard to electro-magnetism also, feeling my insufficiency to reason as you do, I am afraid to receive at once the conclusions you come to (though I am strongly tempted by their simplicity and beauty to adopt them). |
| Related Links | https://content.taylorfrancis.com/books/download?dac=C2010-0-39238-9&isbn=9781003063094&doi=10.1201/9781003063094-6&format=pdf |
| DOI | 10.1201/9781003063094-6 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited |
| Publisher Date | 2020-11-27 |
| Access Restriction | Open |
| Subject Keyword | Book Name: The Philosopher's Tree History and Philosophy of Science Efficacy Mathematics Compass Reasoning Mathematical Knowledge Navigational Afraid |
| Content Type | Text |
| Resource Type | Chapter |
