Why the âiron apparatusâ of the scientific method counts for more than any single genius.
âAn Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pumpâ (1768) by Joseph Wright of Derby. Photo: Corbis via Getty Images By Christoph Irmscher Dec. 18, 2020 6:22 pm ET
Among the missed opportunities in my life, the elaborate physics kit my parents gave me for my 10th birthday reigns supreme. Intimidated by the sheer number of parts, I never performed any of the experiments, but I remember being mightily pleased with the manual that came with it, a spiral-bound paean to the rigors of scientific tinkering.
Memories of that pleasure came flooding back to me as I was reading Michael Strevensâs riveting book âThe Knowledge Machine.â A philosopher of science at New York University, Mr. Strevens doesnât hide his light under a bushel. âIn this book,â he tells us, âyou will discover how science really w