The Joy of Science: An Examination of How Scientists Ask and Answer Questions Using the Story of Evolution as a Paradigm - Brossura

Lockshin, Richard A. A.

Brossura

ISBN 10: 9048175356 ISBN 13: 9789048175352

Casa editrice: Springer, 2010

Riassunto

This book reveals that scientific logic is an extension of common, everyday logic and that it can and should be understood by everyone. Written by a practicing and successful scientist, it explores why questions arise in science and looks at how questions are tackled, what constitutes a valid answer, and why. The author does not bog the reader down in technical details or lists of facts to memorize. Instead, he places the questions in their historical and cultural context, ranging from the earliest intimations that the earth had a long history to current controversies, even describing the origins, challenges, and promises of modern molecular biology. He uses accessible examples, illustrations, and descriptions to address issues as complex as radiocarbon dating and how we know that DNA is a double helix. The book should prove enlightening to anyone who has been perplexed by the meaning, relevance, and moral or political implications of science.

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Recensione

From the reviews:

"The Joy of Science" is an illustrated guide to critical thinking based on the principles of scientific inquiry. This book is written primarily for the non-scientist, but scientists and teachers will be interested in the clever analogies, fascinating facts and classic stories. It provides an outstanding guide for teachers and students to understand the origins and value of scientific reasoning. J. Marie Hardwick, Johns Hopkins University, Schools of Public Health and Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA

"The Joy of Science" is a book that might change your understanding of "Science" and "View of Life" in a substantial way. Richard Lockshin makes complex elements easy to grasp and more importantly, he is teaching the right way to approach biology and its influence in modern thinking. There are no specific prerequisites to reading and understanding this book. "The Joy of Science" is one of the most rewarding books on scientific methodology and evolution. It should be read not only by scientists or students but by anyone with a basic background in biology and a willingness to stretch their minds. Mauro Piacentini, Professor of Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome Italy.

This textbook is a liberal approach to the teaching of Natural Science. Author and Professor Richard Lockshin demonstrate that the learning of science must be accompanied by learning about science. Students who use the text with a supportive teacher and teaching environment will increase their general science literacy with respect to Natural Science content, particularly the topic of evolution, as well as their literacy with respect to how the scientific enterprise works. This book should well serve the needs for a first course in college science, particularly for non-science majors. Dr. Daniel J. Brovey,Professor Emeritus, Science and Technology Eduatio, Queens College, CUNY, New York, USA

"Using evolution as the focus, this book explores how scientists ask questions and what constitutes a robust and valid answer. Who is it for? Primarily for the non-scientist or those wishing for a refreshing perspective on ‘science for the non-scientist’. Presentation It provides lots of analogies, metaphors, facts and stories about science. Would you recommend it? This is an interesting and lively text on evolution and the history of the Earth." (Times Higher Education, May, 2008)

"The Joy of Science is indeed a joy to read. It is well organized, concise, and informative. Though this book is geared for one- or two-semester courses for nonscience students, it has aspects appropriate for other intellectually diverse programs. ... Excellent supportive graphic materials are found throughout the work. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-division undergraduates through graduate students." (J. N. Muzio, Choice, Vol. 46 (2), October, 2008)

“The Joy of Science is a textbook on evolution ... . wrote for university students, but we may also hypothesize some uses in high school. ... Each chapter ends with a series of good ‘essay style’ questions to be used in consolidating learning. An index helps in locating particular arguments in the book. ... Richard Lockshin’s endeavor to present scientific explanations as problem solving in their historical context is very interesting and realized in The Joy of Science.” (Emanuele Serrelli, Evolution: Education & Outreach, Vol. 2 (4), December, 2009)

Contenuti

PART 1: HOW SCIENCE WORKS Chapter 1: Science is an ELF PART II: ORIGIN OF THE THEORY OF EVOLUTION: TIME AND CHANGE Chapter 2: The origin of the earth as seen before the Enlightenment Chapter 3: The seashells on the mountaintop Chapter 4: Were there kangaroos on Noah’s Ark? Chapter 5: Aristotle’s and Linnaeus’ classifications of living creatures Chapter 6: Darwin’s world. Evidences of glaciation Chapter 7: The Voyage of the Beagle Chapter 8: Is the earth old enough for evolution? PART III: ORIGIN OF THE THEORY OF EVOLUTION: SOCIAL ASPECTS Chapter 9: Evaluating data Chapter 10: The Industrial Revolution Chapter 11: Natural selection: The second half of Darwin’s hypothesis Chapter 12: Darwin’s Hypothesis Chapter 13: The crisis in evolution PART IV: THE MOLECULAR BASIS OF EVOLUTIONARY THEORY Chapter 14: The chemical basis of evolution and the origins of molecular biology Chapter 15: The stuff of inheritance: DNA, RNA, and mutations Chapter 16: The genetic code PART V: THE HISTORY OF THE EARTH AND THE ORIGIN OF LIFE Chapter 17: The story of our planet origin of life Chapter 18: The appearance of oxygen Chapter 19: The conquest of land Chapter 20: The great ages of our planet Chapter 21: Return to water and to land Chapter 22: The forces of evolution: continental drift Chapter 23: The violence of the earth: rainshadows, volcanism, and meteorites PART VI: THE ORIGIN OF SPECIES Chapter 24: Competition among species Chapter 25: Sexual selection Chapter 26: Coevolution Chapter 27: The importance of disease Chapter 28: The AIDS murder mystery PART VII: THE EVOLUTION OF HUMANS Chapter 29: Evolution of humans Chapter 30: Science and religion Chapter 31: The impact of evolutionarytheory Chapter 32: Social policy and evolution; evaluating population measurements Chapter 33: Conclusions

Dettagli dell?edizione

• Editore: Springer
• Data di pubblicazione: 2010
• ISBN 10: 9048175356
• ISBN 13: 9789048175352
• Rilegatura: Copertina flessibile
• Lingua: Inglese
• Numero di pagine: 456
• Contatto del produttore: non disponibile