Bersanelli M., Gargantini M. From Galileo to Gell-Mann: The Wonder that Inspired the Greatest Scientists of All Time: In Their Own Words

Templeton Press, 2009. — 320 p.From time to time, the diligent science student huddled over dense volumes of research findings and highly technical data will stumble upon a truly rare treasure: the author’s answer to the question of, Why? Why did the authors of these volumes commit themselves so ardently to life in the laboratory? What was it that motivated them to keep their eye to microscope for years on end? Why did the world’s greatest scientists devote their lives to research—an endeavor where failure is the exponentially more likely outcome than success?In their new anthology, From Galileo to Gell-Mann, Marco Bersanelli and Mario Gargantini have gathered the answers to these fascinating questions from over one hundred of the brightest scientific minds from our past and our present. It is a goldmine of insight that previously could only to be found hidden deep within thousands of scattershot pages of footnotes from out-of-print journals, rare books, and unpublished papers. Throughout the work, Bersanelli and Gargantini also offer insightful commentary and discussion on the readings.Among the most remarkable similarities that emerge when one considers together these writings from the likes of Albert Einstein, Gregor Mendel, Marie Curie, and others, is the sense of wonder and outright awe at what the study of the natural world can reveal. From Galileo to Gell-Mann makes it clear that science and all parallel attempts to understand our human existence—including fields like philosophy to theology—are viewed as nothing less than grand adventures to those that are probing the limits of what we know.Preface (by Duccio Macchetto)
Introduction
Wonder
Wonder and Reality
Wonder and Beauty
Wonder and Contemplation
Wonder and Curiosity
Wonder and Knowledge
Wonder and Joy
Wonder and Observation
Observation
Observation and Affection
Observation and Preconception
Observation and Realism
Observation and Question
Observation and Experiment
Experiment
Experiment and Nature
Experiment and Method
Experiment and Attention
Experiment and Discovery
Discovery
Discovery and Event
Discovery and Innovation
Discovery and Imagination
Discovery and Intuition
Discovery and Company
Discovery and the Unforeseen
Discovery and Gratitude
Discovery and Certainty
Certainty
Certainty and Reality
Certainty and Patience
Certainty and Limits
Certainty and Impossibility
Certainty and Knowability
Certainty and Person
Certainty and Sign
Sign
Sign and Knowledge
Sign and Chance
Sign and Origin
Sign and Mystery
Sign and Design
Sign and Purpose
Purpose
Purpose and Responsibility
Purpose and Harmony
Purpose and Religion
Purpose and Morality
Purpose and Faith
Purpose and Praise
Acknowledgments
Appendix A. Biographical Notes
Appendix B. Glossary
Notes
Index