7. THE METAPHYSICAL CLUB ~ August 5th - August 11th ~~ Part Three - Chapter Seven ~ (151- 176) ~ The Peirces ~No-Spoilers, please

[Bentley, Group Founder, Leader, Chief]

Hello Tomerobber - I think you make a good point - but when the facts are not facts and the figures are not correct as many of these hypotheses and for example Agassiz's hypotheses were - then you find some fallout. Many of these so called scientific theories were quite faulty and probably caused a great deal of harm even though I do not think that Agassiz was a bad man at all. He was just a sign of the times.

Tomerobber - the questions that I am asking do not have to be answered at a personal level - but thank you for sharing - we are trying to stimulate discussion of the ideas in the book and the hypotheses, theorems, laws, belief systems presented and promoted by all of the various personages presented in the book - This is not an easy book because there are quite a few people and their scientific beliefs that many have not come across before.

In the book, some of these folks presented believed in God, some questioned that belief, and others did not believe - Peirce we will find tried to marry his deep religious beliefs with some of his theories to rationally blend them and I thought that was interesting. The book is fascinating from that viewpoint and I appreciate your posts which some folks will agree with and some will not. But everyone is entitled to their opinions and there are no wrong or right answers.

[Tomerobber]

Sorry to stray of topic . . .

[Bentley, Group Founder, Leader, Chief]

I really did not think you were - your posts are great.

[Katy]

Benjamin Peirce was an utter math snob. I have had professors like that, where they prided themselves on how many students they could fail. Rather than caring to share his knowledge, Peirce seemed to hold himself above others by making it near impossible for others to understand him.

[Bentley, Group Founder, Leader, Chief]

Thank you Kathy for saying what I was thinking when I read about him - I am glad that somebody brought that point up. I just could not figure why there were so many of his students I guess who thought he was a good professor - I would have thought that he was more interested in his brilliantness versus teaching his students. I am not sure I would have liked him much.

[Katy]

Perhaps his students that loved him were trying for the snob factor too?

[Bentley, Group Founder, Leader, Chief]

Aaah - had not thought of that Kathy - birds of a feather flock together.

[Patricrk]

This is a lot of background information. I found the argument that the signatures were forged because they were too much alike quite convincing. Statistical arguments are now so much a part of modern science and law (DNA, fingerprints and blood are statistical based evidence). The judge had to rule the way he did because of the rules of evidence prevented the interested parties from giving testimony in a trial about the will. It wasn't just a technicality it was the historical practice of good law. Even today people who are bequeathed something in a will can not be a witness to the signing of the will.

I would not have like BP as a math teacher. When your at this level of math lots of explanations are needed in clear language.

[Bentley, Group Founder, Leader, Chief]

Interesting and great points Patricrk. Me neither - I would have dropped his course as fast as I could.

[Katy]

It is interesting that at this time using statistics for a trial case was very new, and now we think of it as almost a given.

[Becky]

Joining in here a bit late - I first read The Metaphysical Club back in 2003 but I so thoroughly enjoyed it and really looked forward to this discussion but, then ... forgot. Anyway, I've found the book - all marked up with my little notes and such what. And I've enjoyed reading and reviewing it to this point (a little further).

What strikes me now, and prompts me to post, is the coincidence of my having read 2 (two) biographies of Hetty Green in the last month. ( I was catching up on an old wish list.)

The books were:
by Janet Wallach (no photo)
and
by Charles Slack (no photo)

The two books are quite different, Janet Wallach's book is more psychological than that of Charles Slack, but hers also went a bit over-the-top with some "Gilded Age" fluff and "creative" literary devices for my tastes.

That all said, I really found the information in Menand's book (pp 163-175) to be quite interesting and balanced plus it had a few new tidbits for me.

This is Hetty:

[Bentley, Group Founder, Leader, Chief]

We are happy to have you with us Becky - Metaphysical has been that kind of discussion with folks joining in all over the place and starting at various times. So feel free to jump in and post where you are and in the appropriate threads. We are here.

Very interesting about those two books Becky and the unbelievable timing of your read.

[Katy]

Becky, I am a bit behind reading the threads, but glad to find you reading with us. Thanks for the recommendations on the books -- perfect timing in your reading.

I think I'll probably re-read The Metaphysical Club again too in half a year or so. I think a second reading will help me get so much more out of it. I am certainly enjoying this time around, but know that I've missed more than I have understood. Great book.