Reasonably short one (for now).

Todays issue of New Scientist (cover date 24 June 2006 for those who want to keep track) has an interesting editorial in the “Comment and Analysis” section. It was written by Mr Richard Kock (cited as being a Businessman and Author) and Chris Smith (Lord Smith of Finsbury), who is a former UK minister for culture. The thesis they put forward is described in full in “Suicide of the West.” (Book on the right here)

Now, without spoiling either the article or the book (as I havent read it, I cant see how I could spoil it though…) the crux of their entry in New Scientist seems to revolve around the west’s approach to technology.

The overall implication of this article is that from the middle ages onwards, (“sometime between 13th and 15th centuries” is the term used), Europe took the technological lead over the rest of the world and now the “West” has lost this lead. A lot of the article is reasonable and fairly well thought out. It is certainly undeniable that in the developed West, “science” is under attack from a variety of sources – creationism, mysticism, even sheer lunatics. One good point from the article in New Scientist is the comment that there appears to be more apparent belief in magic than at any time since the middle ages. (Although I’d like to see any one prove it…)

I can certainly agree that in a random selection of newspapers there is more about “mystical” properties of various stones, hats, bells etc than really makes sense in this enlightened age and when over 40% of the worlds last super power are creationists it is worrying.

However, this is where the logic and reasearch seem to depart. Mixed in with quite promising, insightful, study there are some bizarre commentary. In a nut shell, the authors of the article are making the point that the reason science advanced so well from the end of the middle ages to today is that people in the west (“Christians”) had an unshakeable belief in a single, all powerful God. They posit that this belief meant people also believed it was possible to determine the “true nature” of the universe, because this almost-human God must have created everything in a logical manner. Since the 1920s, the authors assert, this religious conviction has departed and science has “eaten away at its thought-foundations.”

As an example of the Why, the Christian-west overtook the other world cultures the authors point out the (ahem) Fact that this belief in a Single all powerful deity is unique to Christianity. This is used to explain the rapid advancement from about 1300 onwards. Well, obviously the followers of Judaism and Islam may have a few words to say about this. Sadly, this single error highlights a complete lack of any understanding. The authors have a reasonable comment to make (Developed world is madly turning away from science), however for some mad reason they base it on this. Islamic scholars were well ahead of the Europeans well into the Middle ages. Islam, for example, still maintains the scientific ethos as a core value – yet their advancement failed to keep pace with the west.

Sadly, the article in New Scientist doesnt go as far as a solution – although the implication is that it is tied into beliefs. Taking this as the Author’s end goal, it is quickly falsified by the Middle East. Sadly, there is no simple answer to the modern lack of scientific interest or understanding. It may have many roots, buried deep in different areas. It may simply be down to the sheer volume of information we expect everyone to know today (basic mathematic skills, for example, vastly outstrip even the most educated 2000 years ago), it may be down to cultural or religious direction. It may be down to all these things.

This article doesnt do much more than identify and already identified problem. As the authors own historical knowledge and research is woefully lacking, I dont hold much hope out for their “Insights.” Anyway – read the book and let me know what you think.