Overview

The book presents the conclusions of a psychologist seeking to make sense of contemporary particle physics as described in a number of popular science texts and media articles, written by physicists, seeking to explain the workings of the sub-atomic world. The accounts, it is argued, are mutually exclusive and contradictory, and metaphysical or magical in essence. Themes of the book include: a discussion of the way we allow physicists to invent things that have no perceivable qualities, on the grounds that they 'must' be there because otherwise their preconceptions are wrong or their sums don't work; that, from a psychological perspective, contemporary theory in particle physics has the same properties as any other act of faith, and the same limitations as belief in God; and that physics has now reached a point at which increasingly physicists research their own psychological constructions rather than anything which is unambiguously 'there' or real. It encourages people to ask basic questions of the type we often use to question the existence of God; such as 'Where is he/it?', 'Show me?', 'Do it then', 'When did it happen?', 'How do you know it exists?' , and so on, and suggests that people take a leaf out of Dawkins' text, The God Delusion , but apply it to high-end physics as much as to religious dogma: turning water into wine is a mere conjuring trick compared to producing an entire universe out of nothing.

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9781845405588

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Reviews

This witty, erudite and down-to-earth book reveals that modern theories of physics are as frail with unverifiable beliefs as are religions, due to the psychological processes and errors involved in theory formation. It also challenges all self-serving certitude that a preferred theory or belief is literally true, presents relevant psychology and philosophy of science in an accessible way, and does a good job of sketching physics theories without mathematics. -- Richard Hammersley, Professor of Health Psychology, University of Hull Professor Davies has produced an amusing yet pointed full-frontal assault on science and scientists, especially those physicists who are seeking 'the truth' at the very outer limits of what is knowable. He has chosen a style and tone that will fan the flames of outrage that I am sure will come from some po-faced quarters. I can hear those howls already. The book is a good read and it is all great fun. -- James H. Vincent, PhD, DSc, FRSC, Professor Emeritus, University of Michigan An eminently readable look at concepts such as the Big Bang and Dark Matter used to explain the history of the universe. In a world where 'pure' science is often restrained within strict disciplinary boundaries, Davies provides an account of the way in which physicists - like the rest of us - are subject to earthly limitations when confronted with complexities that are hard to understand. From his viewpoint as a psychologist, he brushes their sometimes mind blowing journey through space and time against the grain and casts light on the uncertainties of our knowledge which too often attains the status of simple graspable truths. Refreshing and entertaining. -- Derek Heim, Professor of Psychology, Edge Hill University

Author Information

John Davies has Emeritus status at the University of Strathclyde. He has directed the Centre for Applied Psychology for some twenty years, and published widely in two areas, namely public health and human factors. He is currently Chair of the Scottish Government working group on Drug Prevention, and for 18 years was editor in chief of the journal Addiction Research and Theory. He has published a number of books (The Psychology of Music; The Myth of Addiction; Drugspeak; Safety Management: A Qualitative Systems Aprroach).

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