[MD] Science and the MOQ

[Platt Holden]

Hi All, 

Two major themes of the MOQ, the creative individual (Pirsig) and beauty 
(the aesthetic continuum) are nicely explicated in a new book, "The Ten 
Most Beautiful Experiments" by George Johnson, reviewed in the NYTimes.

(Unfortunately the web site is too long to paste here. Those interested in 
reading the full review can go the NY Times main page and in the search box 
at the top enter "Ten Most Beautiful Experiments.)

The author sites such experiments as Galileo's incline plane, Newton's use 
of prisms, and Pavlov's dogs. Importantly, the reviewer points out that 
"Johnson, (a long time contributor to The New York Times) favors artisans 
of the laboratory, chronicling 'those rare moments when, using materials at 
hand, a curious soul figured out a way to pose a question to the universe 
and persisted until it replied." A fitting description of Mr. Pirsig and 
other ingenious individuals of great accomplishment who challenge the 
deadening conformity demanded by their cultures and move evolution forward. 

As for beauty in the experiments, Johnson "favors simplicity -- not just 
clean, artful experiments, but those that let us replace convoluted 
theories with simple explanations."  Fits the MOQ to a tee -- "The world is 
primarily a moral order."

The reviewer concludes: "If Johnson's aesthetic sense is conventional, 
however, his vision is broad. This tidy book finds beauty throughout 
science -- even among dead frogs and drooling dogs." 

Indeed. If what you do isn't beautiful, chances are you can do it better.

Regards,
Platt