In journalistic fashion, Craig Weiler relates what began as a seemingly harmless attempt to make sure that TED talk videos maintained a high standard and how this exploded into a wild scientific controversy. When the nonprofit company took down one of their YouTube videos by scientist Rupert Sheldrake, who had given a speech on the philosophy of science, they ignited a fierce discussion that eventually grew to include hundreds of people spanning the globe. For a while, ordinary folks, distinguished scientists, Internet trolls and even a Nobel Prize winning physicist all got together to hash out the greatest scientific controversy . . . ever.
What is reality?
The controversy pitted an assortment of bloggers, scientists, futurists, philosophers and other intellectuals against TED and a small army of reactionaries, desperate to keep new scientific ideas out of the mainstream. This book explores the basis for the controversy and why so many intellectuals support major changes in scientific thinking.
The book also explores the question: What's up with these science reactionaries? It also examines the people and the organizations who lobby the mainstream media, universities, and scientific organizations, and who work together to bend Wikipedia to their point of view.
The controversy over the nature of reality has a profound effect on our society. Chances are that some of the science you read about in Wikipedia, and popular magazines and newspapers, has been altered to reflect the views of these skeptic reactionaries who have organized to "protect" you from "crazy" ideas.
What is reality?
The controversy pitted an assortment of bloggers, scientists, futurists, philosophers and other intellectuals against TED and a small army of reactionaries, desperate to keep new scientific ideas out of the mainstream. This book explores the basis for the controversy and why so many intellectuals support major changes in scientific thinking.
The book also explores the question: What's up with these science reactionaries? It also examines the people and the organizations who lobby the mainstream media, universities, and scientific organizations, and who work together to bend Wikipedia to their point of view.
The controversy over the nature of reality has a profound effect on our society. Chances are that some of the science you read about in Wikipedia, and popular magazines and newspapers, has been altered to reflect the views of these skeptic reactionaries who have organized to "protect" you from "crazy" ideas.
