Science Is Culture: Conversations at the New Intersection of Science + Society

by Adam Bly (Editor)

Overview

Seed magazine brings together a unique gathering of prominent scientists, artists, novelists, philosophers and other thinkers who are tearing down the wall between science and culture.

We are on the cusp of a twenty-first-century scientific renaissance. Science is driving our culture and conversation unlike ever before, transforming the social, political, economic, aesthetic, and intellectual landscape of our time. Today, science is culture. As global issues—like energy and health—become increasingly interconnected, and as our curiosities—like how the mind works or why the universe is expanding—become more complex, we need a new way of looking at the world that blurs the lines between scientific disciplines and the borders between the sciences and the arts and humanities.

In this spirit, the award-winning science magazine Seed has paired scientists with nonscientists to explore ideas of common interest to us all. This book is the result of these illuminating Seed Salon conversations, edited and with an introduction by Seed founder and editor in chief Adam Bly. Science Is Culture includes:

• E. O. Wilson + Daniel C. Dennet
• Steven Pinker + Rebecca Goldstein
• Noam Chomsky + Robert Trivers
• David Byrne + Daniel Levitin
• Jonathan Lethem + Janna Levin
• Benoit Mandelbrot + Paola Antonelli
• Lisa Randall + Chuck Hoberman
• Michel Gondry + Robert Stickgold
• Alan Lightman + Richard Colton
• Laurie David + Stephen Schneider
• Tom Wolfe + Michael Gazzaniga
• Marc Hauser + Errol Morris

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062015464
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	12/15/2023
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	368
File size:	10 MB

Table of Contents

Introduction Adam Bly vii

1 Evolutionary Philosophy Edward O. Wilson Daniel C. Dennett 1

2 The Problems of Consciousness Rebecca Goldstein Steven Pinker 23

3 Time Alan Lightman Richard Colton 43

4 On Design Drew Endy Stefan Sagmeister 61

5 Objectivity and the Image Joan Fontcuberta Ariel Ruiz i Altaba 75

6 Climate Politics Laurie David Stephen Schneider 89

7 War and Deceit Noam Chomsky Robert Trivers 103

8 On Dreams Michel Gondry Robert Stickgold 117

9 The Truth of Fiction Janna Levin Jonathan Lethem 131

10 On Music Daniel Levitin David Byrne 147

11 On Shape Lisa Randall Chuck Hoberman 163

12 On Artifacts Michael Shanks Lynn Hershman Leeson 177

13 Who Makes Science? Lawrence Krauss Natalie Jeremijenko 193

14 What Is Human? Will Self Spencer Wells 209

15 Fractal Architecture Benoit Mandelbrot Paola Antonelli 225

16 Morality Marc Hauser Errol Morris 239

17 Free Will Tom Wolfe Michael Gazzaniga 255

18 Evolution, Creativity, and Future Life Jill Tarter Will Wright 269

19 Complex Networks, Feedback Loops, and the Cities of the Future Carlo Ratti Steven Strogatz 283

20 Social Networks Albert-László Barabási James Fowler 297

21 The Physics of Infinity Paul Steinhardt Peter Galison 313

22 Smarter Infrastructure Thomas E. Lovejoy Mitchell Joachim 329

Acknowledgments 345

Index 347

Editorial Reviews

In 2001, Bly, founder and editor-in-chief of Seed magazine, was convinced that we were at the cusp of a scientific renaissance that would transform our culture. For him the vitality of the anti-science movement, which opposes the theory of evolution, is a cause for optimism because it is a futile attempt to hold back "the imminent rise of a cultural shift" that will bring necessary changes to how we view the world. This collection of 22 conversations, first published in Seed, brings together a community of artists and physicists, writers and designers, architects and geneticist. The eclectic group discusses a wide range of topics: Cognitive scientist Steven Pinker and novelist Rebecca Goldstein reject the cultural relativist argument that morality is merely a social convention; writers Janna Levin and Jonathan Lethem explore the relationship between metaphor and fantasy in imaginative writing; eminent ecologist Thomas Lovejoy and Mitchell Joachim, co-founder of Terreform ONE, argue the merits of cloth versus plastic diapers. Joachim explains that energy comparison by DuPont were flawed because of the assumptions that cloth diapers would be machine-dried; Lovejoy humorously retorts that in practice the choice between cloth and plastic diapers may be different for Joachim when his wife gives birth to their first child. An animated and engaging discussion of important ideas. (Oct.)

Publishers Weekly