August 14, 2019 Wednesday
Bedtime Story
The term “ignoramus et ignorabimus” is a
Latin maxim which in English translates to “we do not know and we will not
know” and a philosophical idea related to epistemology.
It was popularized by none other than the
physiologist that we were talking about, namely Emil du Bois-Reymond in his
1872 treatise “On the Limits of Our understanding of Nature”.
It is a philosophical stand (and not
scientific one even though mathematical logicians such as Gödel, Tarski and
Fitch have repeatedly come out with proofs in support of such a stand) that
knowledge accrued through scientific methods and mathematics has its
limitations.
This must not be construed in that case
that religion or spirituality are the alternatives to our understanding of the
nature of reality; such a nonsensical suggestion has been made by no credible
scientist no matter what type of personal belief he may have held.
Bois-Reymond is a standing example – who
makes it explicit where many other scientists do not – the modesty in which
scientists operate and a lack of any hubris which scientists are often accused
of carrying on their shoulders inside their heads.
Scientists (and mathematicians/logicians)
who actually do research or strive for truth (there are very few/rare human
apes in any set of existing population who truly indulge in pure research since
even most scientists commit themselves to translational/industry-centric
research) truly understand the enormity of the task of understanding nature and
are well grounded because they constantly encounter their own personal
limitations in various forms.
The phrase “ignoramus et ignorabimus” indirectly
also implies (though not very conspicuous) that scientists as a group can be
entrusted with self-criticism which perhaps other groups are less capable of.
Carl Ludwig with whom Henry Bowditch spent
some time at Leipzig revolutionized the study of physiology by not merely
making new discoveries but introducing into this science new methods of
investigations and novel apparatuses for study of physiological processes.
It was under his guidance that the
Physiological Institute at Leipzig became the bright light bulb that attracted
biologists and physiologists like moths from around the world.
Ludwig developed several techniques to
study the functioning of nerves and blood vessels such as inventing an
instrument called kymograph – a mechanical and hydraulic device – that was
capable of recording changes in blood pressures.
During the time of its invention it had
become the central instrument in physiology and it further spurred other
researchers and technicians to developed devises that were analogously capable
of recording other physiological phenomena such as breathing, muscle movement,
nerve conduction and speech.
Ludwig also devised an instrument known as
mercurial blood-pump which allowed him to study blood gases which are now a
fundamental part of emergency medicine and carried out every day in thousands in
the intensive care units and surgical recovery rooms worldwide.
Stay tuned to the voice of an
average story storytelling chimpanzee or login at http://panarrans.blogspot.com
Good night Mon Ami and my fellow cousin ape.
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Another great educator and a teacher that I am aware of is
Professor Subhashish Chattopadhyay in Bangalore, India.
While I narrate stories, Professor Subhashish an electronic
engineer and a former professor at BARC, does and teaches real mathematics and
physics.
He started the participation of Indian students at the
International Physics Olympiad.
Do visit him here:
All his books can be downloaded for free through this link:
For edutainment and English education of your children, I
recommend this large collection of Halloween Songs for Kids:
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