What is your dangerous idea?
From Copernicus to Darwin, to current-day thinkers, scientists have always promoted theories and unveiled discoveries that challenge everything society holds dear; ideas with both positive and dire consequences. Many thoughts that resonate today are dangerous not because they are assumed to be false, but because they might turn out to be true. What do the world's leading scientists and thinkers consider to be their most dangerous idea? Through the leading online forum "Edge" (www.edge.org), the call went out, and this compelling and easily digestible volume collects the answers. From using medication to permanently alter our personalities to contemplating a universe in which we are utterly alone, to the idea that the universe might be fundamentally inexplicable, "What Is Your Dangerous Idea?" takes an unflinching look at the daring, breathtaking, sometimes terrifying thoughts that could forever alter our world and the way we live in it.
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What Hacker News says
- > If women’s pelvises were any bigger, they would not be able to walk and run well.
That picked my interest so I dug deeper. The author cites p.252 of Brockman's "What is your dangerous idea?", which is an essay by Prof. Timothy Taylor called "The Human Brain is a Cultural Artifact". Sadly, even though its topic is indeed human brains and pelvises, the essay says nothing of the sort. So Prof. Davies made up the claim, or misattributed the citation and didn't check it.
- John Brockman often combines these into book form and sells them later. Look for it in a little while.
Here's previous edge question compilations:
What Is Your Dangerous Idea: http://amzn.to/fTgjYk
And others: http://amzn.to/fkoFdv
(yes, affiliate links) I have essys in two of them. :-)
