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- Jefferson & Science
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- William S. Hammack
Every Fourth of July I read the Declaration of Independence. Over the years I've detected, with my engineers eye, an unmistakable trace of science and math in the Declaration. Phrases like "laws of nature" had deep meaning for the Founders. Thomas Jefferson, John Adams and Benjamin Franklin, all members of the committee that wrote the Declaration, used science as a source for metaphors. They believed it to be the supreme expression of human reason. For no Founder was science more important than Jefferson, the Declaration's main author. What does this mean for us today?
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Piece Description
Every Fourth of July I read the Declaration of Independence. Over the years I've detected, with my engineers eye, an unmistakable trace of science and math in the Declaration. Phrases like "laws of nature" had deep meaning for the Founders. Thomas Jefferson, John Adams and Benjamin Franklin, all members of the committee that wrote the Declaration, used science as a source for metaphors. They believed it to be the supreme expression of human reason. For no Founder was science more important than Jefferson, the Declaration's main author. What does this mean for us today?
4 Comments
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Review of Jefferson & ScienceI like the concept of an engineer or a scientist reviewing the declaration. This should be introduced as part of the piece, however. If you remake this piece, please consider introducing yourself and briefly explaining why your views might be unique. And if you feel a parallel between yourself and Jefferson, mention that. The public at large will not know what an axiom is. Include this. You go through a bit of detail, never really hinting at what the takeaway is. Something to hint at the ending is great for setting the mode of the listener and grabbing his attention. The take-away is fun, but required a second listen, partly for the reason above. Partly also because it was expressed as an isolated concept. Try personalizing the take-away. If this message struck you well enough to make you want to do a piece on it, explain something about the impact. |
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Review of Jefferson & ScienceThis piece provided me with a new look at not only the Declaration of Independence but taught me some interesting bits about Thomas Jefferson. It is a well written and presented piece. |
Broadcast History
This is part of a series of 250 commentaries broadcast between 1999 and 2005 which will be released by the end of 2008. This series, called Stories of Technology, uses a humanistic approach by emphasizing the human dimension to technology - from the trial, tribulations, and triumphs of inventors, engineers and scientists to the effect of technology on our daily lives. The series, for example, reveals the secrets of high-tech underwear, explored the mysteries of mood rings, probes the perils of nanotechnology, and examines the threats to privacy from technology.These have appears - in various forms on Marketplace, Illinois Public Radio, and Radio National Australia's Science Show. All were originally produced and broadcast by WILL-AM 580 Urbana, Illinois. They were produced between August 1999 and August 2005.
Transcript
JEFFERSON & SCIENCE:
Every Fourth of July I read the Declaration of Independence. I do this partly because I enjoy its eloquent phrases, partly because its lofty sentiments fill me with historical pride, but mostly I reread it to be a better citizen. It is, after all, the founding document.
Over the years I've detected, with my engineers eye, an unmistakable trace of science and math in the Declaration. It reads like a geometric proof with its "laws of nature" and its truths held to be "self-evident" like axioms. It first lays down axioms like "All men are created equal" and then derives, if you will, an indictment against King George the Third.
I've learned that there is more than an echo of scientific reasoning in the Declaration, phrases like "laws of nature" had deep meaning for the Founders. Thomas Jefferson, John Adams and Benjamin Franklin, all members of the committee th...
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eric carlson
Posted on July 06, 2004 at 04:28 PM | Permalink
Review of Jefferson & Science
Thoughtful and timely. Understanding the perspective of the author and his background would be helpful. This piece could easily have stretched to twice it's length to develop some of the ideas and parallels in mathematics and the sciences, however, the intent is more patriotic and memorial rather than simply a scientific slant. The concept of re-reading the declaration of independence every 4th is something of a soft call to action making the listener wish they had thought to make this a tradition; it's a thinking man's patriotic gesture. The narrator was clear, well paced and succinct.