"Ruchlis, Hyman - True" - читать интересную книгу автора (Ruchlis Hyman)

Q175.2.R83 1991
507.2--dc20 90-28449
CIP
AC

Printed in the United States of America on acid-free paper.


Contents

PART ONE: SUPERSTITION AND
FAIRY-TALE THINKING

1. Fiction or Fact? 11
2. The Nature of Superstition 15
3. An Experiment with a Superstition 25
4. Astrology: Science or Superstition? 35

PART TWO: SCIENCE AS A WAY OF THINKING
5. How New Facts Are Discovered 47
6. Science and Freedom of Thought 59
7. Developing a Theory: Probability 73
8. Unusual Events: Luck and Chance 83
9. Science Gives Us Real Knowledge 93
10. Science: Past, Present, and Future 101

5



Acknowledgments

My deepest appreciation goes to my wife, Elsie, who not only
undertook many additional family responsibilities that made
it possible for me to write this book, but also suggested a number
of improvements in the manuscript.
Ruth Handel, who read the manuscript, offered several im-
portant ideas that were incorporated into the book.
Last, but not least, granddaughter Kathy Ember, age 13,
found a number of explanations in the book that seemed con-
fusing to her and were therefore improved in the final work.
Finally, to my other granddaughters, Julie Ember and
Annalisa Ruchlis, and to all other children who were the main
motivation for me to write this book--to cope with the con-
fusions of modern life they need to be able to recognize "fairy-
tale thinking" and superstition whenever they encounter it.



PART ONE