Science through the looking glass of literature

Abstract

The scientific revolution brought about by Einstein, Lorentz, Bohr, Heisenberg and others has changed our society and our worldview, as is reflected also in literature, fiction as well as non-fiction. Of course we need textbooks to teach relativity, cosmology and quantum mechanics, but I think together with our students we should also read short stories, novels, plays and essays by Alan Lightman, Harry Mulisch, Michael Frayn, Michael Crichton, and others. By studying science through the looking glass of literature one can see the philosophy, history, sociology, ethics and the public perception of modern science. During the twentieth century the optimism of the Enlightenment disappeared and was replaced by Postmodern pessimism. The looking glass was stained and darkened considerably, reflecting a rather gloomy, fragmented and essentially distorted picture. In this lecture I hope to clear a somber spot on the looking glass.