Disturbing the Universe - Dyson

 

If you've ever wondered how the British firebombing of Germany in World War II, searching for extra terrestrial life, nuclear terrorism, and the existence of dark matter are related this book is for you.  "Disturbing the Universe" written in the early 1970's by the mathematician/physicist Freeman Dyson--the best scientist on tour never to have won the major--is an amazing philosophical journey through the author's life as a scientist and the deep questions of conscious through which he struggled to simply show up for work the next morning. 

Dyson is quite a character - a kind of scientific Forrest Gump...he seems to have been in on some of the most profound technology developments this side of sliced bread...but then standing just slightly left of the stage smiling.  He writes extremely well and is just enough a radical to be interesting, has just enough knowledge to be credible, and just enough humility to be tolerable above the obvious arrogance required to write such a profound book.  To me he has struck the perfect balance.

As I read this book for a second time, the first time was in 1988, I searched for information that would render some of what he had to say obsolete, OBS, as it were, overcome by science.  The fact is this book has survived the test of time.  What he says is as relevant today as it was 35 years ago.  His description of the potential for nuclear terrorism is the most powerful.  His appeal that science must be permitted the resources and flexibility to explore and discover and not be shut down prior to making important discoveries is perhaps the only thing that Kuhn missed, but the practical thing that can drive a scientific revolution (my words not his).  Then, only after the important discoveries are made, should the usefulness of the science be ethically weighed within our societies conscious.  Finally, his three reasons humanity must venture to the heavens should be required reading by anyone who consider themselves an earthling and highly relevant as we currently debate the chapter of space exploration.

Toward the end for the book Dyson throws in an argument for design.  It is important to note that the design he is referencing is not that of intelligent design as forward by Michael Bebe and his ilk.  His confronts the uncertainty of quantum physics vs the certainty of biological evolution.  His is specifically a brief introduction into the anthropic arguments, which, since they are scientific fact, have no place in the fabricated science of intelligent design.   Dyson finishes the book with what we knew must exist in 1975 and now still can't find but know by the name dark matter, and then closes with a shameless head nod to Stanley Kubrick's, "2001; A Space Odyssey", with whom he was on the set with and interviewed by Kubrick during its filming (see Forrest Gump above).

Recently Dyson has quoted and heralded by those who believe the science of global warming to be fraudulent, as if Dyson were on their side and he is their champion.  Since this is a mere book review I will not enter into that discussion.  I will say though, from what I've read about Dyson and from a glimpse at the way his brain functions, as revealed through this book,  his life, his quotes, and his deeds are being heavily misconstrued.