Jules Henri Poincaré (1854–1912). Photograph from the frontispiece of the 1913 edition of Last Thoughts.
To the superficial observer scientific truth is unassailable, the logic of science is infallible; and if scientific men sometimes make mistakes, it is because they have not understood the rules of the game. Mathematical truths are derived from a few self-evident propositions, by a chain of flawless reasonings; they are imposed not only on us, but on Nature itself. By them the Creator is fettered, as it were, and His choice is limited to a relatively small number of solutions. A few experiments, therefore, will be sufficient to enable us to determine what choice He has made. From each experiment a number of consequences will follow by a series of mathematical deductions, and in this way each of them will reveal to us a corner of the universe. This, to the minds of most people, and to students who are getting their first ideas of physics, is the origin of certainty in science. This is what they take to be the role of experiment and mathematics. And thus, too, it was understood a hundred years ago by many men of science who dreamed of constructing the world with the aid of the smallest possible amount of material borrowed from experiment. But upon more mature reflection the position held by hypothesis was seen; it was recognised that it is as necessary to the experimenter as it is to the mathematician. And then the doubt arose if all these constructions are built on solid foundations. The conclusion was drawn that a breath would bring them to the ground. This sceptical attitude does not escape the charge of superficiality. To doubt everything or to believe everything are two equally convenient solutions; both dispense with the necessity of reflection.
Fractal shell. Generated by Myriam B. Mahiques. Personal archives.
From Science and Hyphotesis. By Henri Poincaré. Author´s preface to the edition of New York, 1905
Read about Henri Poincaré:
http://www.iep.utm.edu/poincare/
Read about Henri Poincaré:
http://www.iep.utm.edu/poincare/
Leyendo uno de los libros de filosofía (de la ciencia) de Poincaré; con gran placer y hasta emoción por la quietud y sustento con las que sus palabra parecen emanar; encontré la respuesta a mi desconfianza, de joven, con la física: en uno de los recodos del libro se podía leer estas breves palabras: "los ingleses, que consideran a la física como una ciencia experimental,..." y comprendí de golpe que esa era precisamente la diferencia con la matemática no necesitada de lo real para describirlo y revelarlo: "la física es el robo", pensé entonces, puesto que explica siempre las cosas "après la lettre"; las constata, pero es frecuentemente incapaz de predecirlas y explicarlas antes; a la inversa de los Arquímedes, que también fueron físicos, que sabían, por métodos matemáticos y abstractos, el valor de pi con suficiente precisión, mucho antes de saber seguros y experimentalmente (1) , que era el número que regía en forma a la propia Tierra.
ReplyDelete(1): Y puesto que con los ingleses hemos topado, no quiero dejar de citar al experimentalista -y descreído- Stephen Hawking : "La Tierra es redonda. Lo sé, he viajado en avión alrededor de ella."
Hola Robin, como verás yo también me entusiasmé con Poincaré porque sabía que él era el precursor de la teoría del caos (dentro de la cual los fractales son la expresión geométrica) pero nunca había leído sus libros. Salteándome la parte de cálculos, seguiré leyéndolo, por partes. TAmbién hice un post en mi blog de arquitectura, saludos
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