On page 338, Berkson gives J.D. Jackson's Classical Electrodynamics as an example of a textbook whose history is "a pack of lies."
On page 339, Berkson writes:
"The question is: Is any harm done by such false and misleading history? Certainly the historical comments in most textbooks are not intended very seriously, but I fear they may have had serious consequences. The nature of scientific discovery is persistently clouded over and a wrong idea of the nature of research is given. This textbook impression is perhaps corrected in some cases by researchers who explain that there is a problem situation in science, and that there is much uncertainty and many weaknesses in existing theories. But the fact is that the usual science education is almost entirely textbook education."
The last two or so pages are reason enough to read this book. Yet the other 337 pages aren't bad either.
This is a good work showing the intellectual progression from Newton: https://a.co/d/0jp3bXU
Just started reading this. It's excellent. Thanks again for the recommendation.
This Amazon review closes the sale.
On page 338, Berkson gives J.D. Jackson's Classical Electrodynamics as an example of a textbook whose history is "a pack of lies."
On page 339, Berkson writes:
"The question is: Is any harm done by such false and misleading history? Certainly the historical comments in most textbooks are not intended very seriously, but I fear they may have had serious consequences. The nature of scientific discovery is persistently clouded over and a wrong idea of the nature of research is given. This textbook impression is perhaps corrected in some cases by researchers who explain that there is a problem situation in science, and that there is much uncertainty and many weaknesses in existing theories. But the fact is that the usual science education is almost entirely textbook education."
The last two or so pages are reason enough to read this book. Yet the other 337 pages aren't bad either.
I found a used copy for less than $30 on AbeBooks: https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchResults?sts=t&ref_=search_f_hp&tn=Fields%20of%20Force&an=William%20Berkson