Kaluza Klein Theory and Higher Dimensions

“The power and beauty of physical laws is that they apply everywhere, whether or not you choose to believe in them. In other words, after the laws of physics, everything else is opinion.” An astrophysicist by training but an energetic, effective communicator by nature, Neil deGrasse Tyson offers a brief introduction into the origin and evolution of the universe. Compacting the entirety of the universe into a conglomeration of two-hundred pages requires Tyson to move swiftly through his analysis, often employing wit, anecdotes, and science-fiction references to maintain his narrative have an ecstatic atmosphere. His goal throughout this book is as astronomically large as the cosmos itself: to create a scientifically literate population. Speaking

“But you are rather waiting to hear from me how it occurred to me to venture to conceive any motion of the earth, against the traditional opinion of astronomers and almost against common sense…” (39).

The article ‘On the Recentness of What We Know,’ written by Verlyn Klinkenborg, is a pleasant read about the author’s fondness of astronomy and his insight regarding the science of it and knowledge gleaned from it. Klinkenborg recounts a few of his star-gazing memories and then proceeds to analyze the effects cosmological discoveries have on him personally and humanity in general. The author shares bits of theoretical history of the universe and information on the early astronomers whose hypotheses have developed that history. He goes on to reference various well known discoveries throughout the years and marvels at how drastically information in recent years has changed the stories of our universe.

These ideas not only, obviously, created a new conception of the forming of the universe, but also of humanities place within it. The Copernican hypothesis had enormous religious implications as it destroyed the idea that the earth was different from where God was. This eliminated the realm of perfection. Therefore humanity’s place within the Earth was lessening in importance. Also, 1572 a “new star,” which was really an exploding star, left a huge impression on many people. This is because it contradicted the idea that the heavenly spheres were unchanging, thus

“The lights that filled the universe could be channeled, dissected, magnified, and measured by human ingenuity” (enlight, 2). There was a significant breakthrough in regards to what could be done in continuing to explore new theories.

A Polish scientist brought a new idea that would make many people think. “Nicolaus Copernicus believed that the center of the Universe was the sun or the Heliocentric View” (Document D). This illustrates that many people discovered new aspects of science. As a result, more ideas will spark from others, coming off of Nicolaus’s new speculation. Next, the famous “Renaissance Man” studies this sophisticated topic.

The author says that to be a scientist, we must have the courage to face doubt, and he backs up his idea with a 19th century French physiologist, Claude Bernard, “Science teaches us to doubt.” Saying that a scientist must be open-minded to the fact that their findings are not always correct, the author describes Einstein’s process and how he goes about it. There is sense of knowledge that Claude Bernard seems to have as he is titled, “the great French Physiologist”. Also, the qualification and power that comes with Einstein’s name is known worldwide and clearly apparent. Both of these names and titles, which are very credible, come together to make Barry’s argument more

Giordano Bruno (1548-1660), was previously a Dominican priest that became interested in the ancient philosophy of Hermetism. The Hermitic, believed that humankind was divine; they also believed in the existence of magical forces that could be used to benefit humans, integrate mankind, stars, and planets. In addition, Hermetics thought, in the universe there were countless inhabited worlds; in other words, solar systems and in each of them including our own, the sun wan divine. Finally, Bruno accepted Copernicus’ heliocentric philosophy mainly because it restored the divine position given to the sun by the

However, as the sciences began to contradict what the Church taught the public, humanism began to be painted in a more pagan light (Kreis). Copernicus's assertion that Earth was not in fact the center of the universe, going back to a Greek theory that the Earth and other planets orbit the sun. This was met with great refusal by the Church as it seemed to completely contradict the teachings of the Bible (Cunningham 86). It is interesting to note how up to this point scientists had simply submitted to the Church that in some instances, everything is exactly how it appears. The departure from this again shows humanism was promoting the importance of scientific

The leading minds of science and literature were playing right into the hands of the common man at the most opportune time in history. The blind trust in religion was beginning to fade and the papal order was beginning to be shrouded in skepticism. Unquestioningly taking someone else’s word for what was true and acceptable was a thing of the past. The average individual was beginning to doubt the existence of an all-powerful God and turn his or her attention inward. The landscape of Europe and the world would forever be changed by these new revolutionary ideas and go on to influence the crusaders of the American and French Revolution.

Albert Einstein once said “I want to know God’s thoughts, the rest are details”. Einstein wanted an equation that would encapsulate all physical laws. To put the beauty and the power of the universe into a single equation was his life’s goal. Although Einstein’s name is now synonymous with genius, his professors would have never predicted him to be this successful as he would always cut class, and he could not get a single job after graduating. Einstein thought he was such loser that he wrote a letter to his family saying perhaps it would be better if he was never born. His father had to apply on behalf of Einstein for academic positions, but they all said there were no positions available. His father passed away thinking that Einstein was a total disgrace to the family. In 1902 Einstein moved to Switzerland, and began a career far from science. One of his friends got him a job to be a patent clerk in the Swiss patent office. He spent six days a week reviewing applications submitted by inventors to the Swiss government. He had to analyze the patents and strip them to their essence, which honed his skills as a physicist. Since it was not intellectually demanding it would give him ample time to contemplate the universe. Einstein’s daydreams would change the way the universe was understood.

“I seem to have been only like a boy playing on the seashore, and diverting myself in now and then finding a smoother pebble or a prettier shell than ordinary, whilst the great ocean of truth lay all undiscovered before me.” – Sir Isaac Newton (Brewster, Memoirs of Newton, 1855)

This example vividly displays how faith can cause an accretion to human development and innovation, if the findings of Galileo were ubiquitously accepted, then in the 21st Century, we would have been further down the line in the field of astrology.

We live in a strange and puzzling world. Despite the exponential growth of knowledge in the past century, we are faced by a baffling multitude of conflicting ideas. The mass of conflicting ideas causes the replacement of knowledge, as one that was previously believed to be true gets replace by new idea. This is accelerated by the rapid development of technology to allow new investigations into knowledge within the areas of human and natural sciences. Knowledge in the human sciences has been replaced for decades as new discoveries by the increased study of humans, and travel has caused the discarding of a vast array of theories. The development of

This book, ‘What is this Thing called Science?’ is assigned to write a review on the third edition which was published in the year 1999, 1st February by University of Queensland Press. This book is reflects up to date with day today’s contemporary trend and gives a basic introduction on the philosophy of science. This is a very comprehensive book explaining the nature of science and its historical development. It is very informative and a necessary reference when attempting to understand the how science has evolved throughout time. The book is also well organized, and each chapter is concluded with suggestions for further reading. This book is actually a review on the philosophy of science.