[Read up to Chapter 16 before reading this post]
Murugan exists in a futuristic world where computers can tell you pretty much anything and traveling from Long Island to Calcutta is easy--- and not a month long excursion through the jungle. However, Murugan's ideas are not inhibited by distance but by time. All of his proof centers around events that took place in the 1800's. Trying to prove that there as an ultra-secretive group of "anti-scientists" from the 19th century (which potentially exists today through the "calcutta chromosome") is incredibly bizarre. Do you guys think that Murugan's claims should be taken more seriously in the same way that Challenger's claims should have been? Can his ideas be tested? Are Murugan's claims even in the realm of science? Or is Murugan a more modern example of Challenger: someone whose claims are ignored by modern society because they seem so illogical. Any ideas?
I don't know that his ideas can be "tested" in the sense of experimentation. It'd be more of a research project/CSI type scenario where all of the evidence would be in the past leading up to something - in this case, the something would be the group of anti-scientists. I don't think, however, that Murugan's ideas should just be ignored, but I am the type of person that won't totally disregard a new idea unless it's been proven to be wrong. As far as his claims actually being in the realm of science though, I think it depends on someone's definition of what science is. If science is just lab experimentation with a hypothesis, controls, variables, etc., then I would say that no, his claims aren't in that realm of science. But if someone has a broader view of science such as something encompassing any seek for new knowledge that involves some sort of method, then I would say that his claims do fall in the realm of science.
ReplyDeleteI feel like his ideas are not really included in the realm of science. However, like Ashley said, what is included in the realm of science? His idea of becoming immortal is an idea that all of us are so used to being classified as fiction. In this since, I feel like it will never be accepted in society until it has been proven. He is similar to Challenger in the way that his ideas are so radical in the present world that nobody will think twice about them. Most will just think of it as, like I said before, fiction. I think it’s hard for men to prove such radical ideas in today’s world. People are set in their ways, and unless it’s obviously true, they have trouble believing it. With this said, Murugan's ideas are too different for the modern world to accept.
ReplyDeleteThe definition of science:the intellectual and practical activity encompassing the systematic study of the structure and behavior of the physical and natural world through observation and experiment.
ReplyDeleteGenerally, the definition of science is very broad. Any activities can be called science, as long as they are encompassing the systematic study. Since Murugan and Challenger are doing systemic researches, their work is definitely related to science.
The problem is that Murugan and Callenger are using the observations or experiments, which cannot be understood or believed by most people at that time to do the scientific research. The observations and experiments they use are also not developed enough to produce convincing prove at that time.
Toward the novel itself, any insane or illogical scientific researches in the story can be absolutely assumed as science. In fact, a lot of discoveries and inventions are came from novels.
While Murugan isn't TECHNICALLY a scientist, and Challenger is, they are both in the same boat. Very few people believe their seemingly outlandish claims. Even though Murugan seems like more of a historical researcher, his claims can be indirectly tested if the existence of the supposed "Calcutta Chromosome" can be tested (does it exist or doesn't it?). Just like Challenger's claims of a "Lost World" can be tested (does it exist or doesn't it?). So in a convoluted way, they are both in the realm of science.
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