SaENCE 1 1 



not truly represent the universe. Many of the best science-fiction stories 

 depend upon the failure of one or more of these assumptions. 



Yet, at least one of them is a little shaky. The cause-effect relation- 

 ship works on the ordinary size level but must be slightly modified on 

 the atomic or the cosmic level. Instead of effect from some cause, it is 

 possible to give only a "most probable effect." Individual atoms and sub- 

 atomic particles do not necessarily obey the law of cause and effect. 

 The new theoretical physics, wave mechanics or statistical mechanics, 

 has not yet exerted its full influence on science. It will be interesting 

 to watch the revolution in thinking when it does. 



SELECTED REFERENCES 



Conant, James B., Modern Science and Modern Man. New York: 

 Columbia University Press, 1952. This is one of a series of short 

 books in which Conant discusses science and particularly the under- 

 standing of science by non-scientists. 



Lachman, Sheldon J., The Foundations of Science. Detroit: Hamil- 

 ton Press, 1956. Contains a clear description of science, its activities, 

 goals, and. conceptions. The writing is clear and easy to follow. In 

 some cases it is deceptively simple; some of the paragraphs are more 

 profound than they seem at first reading. 



Polanyi, Michael, The Study of Man. London: Routledge and Kegan 

 Paul, 1959. The Study of Man is a condensation and extension of 

 ideas expressed in the longer book. Personal Knowledge. Polanyi is 

 a chemist who has become concerned with how we know things. 

 One may not agree with him, but he certainly stimulates thinking. 



