John Horgan (journalist)
John Horgan | |
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BloggingHeads.tv; blogger for "Scientific American ". |
John Horgan (born 1953) is an American
Horgan graduated from the Columbia University School of Journalism in 1983. Between 1986 and 1997 he was a senior writer at Scientific American.[1]
1990s assertions
His October 1993 Scientific American article, "The Death of Proof", claimed that the growing complexity of mathematics, combined with "computer proofs" and other developments, were undermining traditional concepts of mathematical proof. The article generated "torrents of howls and complaints" from mathematicians, according to David Hoffman (one of the mathematicians Horgan interviewed for the article).[2] In response to this article, the Horgan surface is, sarcastically, named after him. It is a speculated embedded minimal surface whose existence is strongly suggested by computers but doubted by many mathematicians. The non-existence of the Horgan surface is later established rigorously through a mathematical proof,[3] completing the sarcasm with the term "Horgan non-surface".
Horgan's 1996 book The End of Science begins where "The Death of Proof" leaves off: in it, Horgan argues that pure science, defined as "the primordial human quest to understand the universe and our place in it," may be coming to an end. Horgan claims that science will not achieve insights into nature as profound as
In 2000 Horgan wrote a supportive review of Patrick Tierney's
Later work
In 1999 Horgan followed up The End of Science with The Undiscovered Mind: How the Human Brain Defies Replication, Medication and Explanation, which critiques neuroscience, psychoanalysis, psychopharmacology, evolutionary psychology, behavioral genetics, artificial intelligence and other mind-related fields. For his 2003 book Rational Mysticism,[8] he profiled a number of scientists, mystics, and religious thinkers who have delved into the interface of science, religion and mysticism. He presents his personal impressions of these individuals and a sometimes controversial analysis of their contributions to rational mysticism and the relationship between religion and science. His 2012 book "The End of War" presents scientific arguments against the widespread belief that war is inevitable.
In 2005, Horgan became the Director of the Center for Science Writings (CSW) at
Media appearances
Horgan has appeared on the Charlie Rose show, the Lehrer News Hour and many other media outlets in the U.S. and Europe. Currently he is a frequent host (usually with science writer George Johnson) of "Science Faction", a monthly discussion related to science topics on the website Bloggingheads.tv.
Political views
Horgan has stated that "part of me wonders whether research on race and intelligence—given the persistence of racism in the U.S. and elsewhere—should simply be banned."
Bibliography
Books
- (1996), The End of Science: Facing the Limits of Science in the Twilight of the Scientific Age. New York: Broadway Books.
- (1999). The Undiscovered Mind: How the Human Brain Defies Replication, Medication and Explanation. New York: Touchstone.
- With Reverend Frank Greer (2002). Where Was God on September 11? (A Scientist Asks a Ground Zero Pastor). San Francisco: Browntrout Publishers.
- (2003). Rational Mysticism: Dispatches from the Border Between Science and Spirituality. New York: Houghton Mifflin.
- (2012). The End of War. San Francisco: McSweeney's.
- (2018). Mind-Body Problems: Science, Subjectivity & Who We Really Are. (Free online book Archived March 3, 2021, at the Wayback Machine)
- (2020). Pay Attention: Sex, Death, and Science. Terra Nova Press.
Articles
- Horgan, John (May 1991). "Profile: Reluctant Revolutionary:
- Horgan, John (November 1993). "Profile: .
- Horgan, John (February 1994). "Trends in Physics: Particle Metaphysics". .
- Horgan, John. October 2006. "The Final Frontier: Ten years after the publication of The End of Science, John Horgan says the limits of scientific inquiry are more visible than ever." Discover Magazine http://discovermagazine.com/2006/oct/cover#.UW8uaKV5nzI
- Horgan, John. June 2008. "The Consciousness Conundrum: The wetware that gives rise to consciousness is far too complex to be replicated in a computer anytime soon." IEEE Spectrum. https://spectrum.ieee.org/biomedical/imaging/the-consciousness-conundrum
- Horgan, John. March 2013. "The Drones Come Home." National Geographic [1]
- Horgan, John. April 2021. "Will Quantum Computing Ever Live Up to Its Hype?" Scientific American https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/will-quantum-computing-ever-live-up-to-its-hype/
References
- ^ a b John Horgan – Biography, accessed October 21, 2007
- ^ David Hoffman, book review of The End of Science: Facing the Limits of Knowledge in the Twilight of the Scientific Age, Notices of the AMS, Volume 45, Number 2 (February 1998), pp. 263. Accessed October 21, 2007.
- S2CID 120960847.
- ^ Philip W. Anderson, Why Do They Leave Physics? Archived June 4, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, Physics Today, Sep99, Vol. 52
- ^ Natalie Angier, The Job Is Finished, The New York Times, June 30, 1996
- ^ Horgan, John (November 12, 2000). "Hearts of Darkness". The New York Times.
- ^ "Darkness in El Dorado". AnthroNiche.com. Archived from the original on September 23, 2015. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
- ISBN 0-61844-663-X).
- ^ Horgan, John. "Should Research on Race and IQ Be Banned?*". Scientific American Blog Network. Retrieved October 4, 2020.
- ^ Horgan, John. "Google Engineer Fired for Sexist Memo Isn't a Hero". Scientific American Blog Network. Retrieved May 3, 2020.