From: Hauslein, Patricia L. (hauslein@stcloudstate.edu)
Date: Wed Aug 13 2003 - 13:50:54 EDT
Hi Folks - I just want to share a quick story. I was taking a biochem exam as an undergrad. There was a question about the structure of a molecule from its formula. It was the only question I had left and I just couldn't figure it out. I looked up at the clock and thought to myself, "the bell is going to RING". Yep, it was a ring structure. I got it right.
Pat
Patricia Hauslein, Ph.D. Hauslein@StCloudState.edu
Assoc. Prof. Biology 320.255.3005
Saint Cloud State University
-----Original Message-----
From: George Murphy [mailto:gmurphy@raex.com]
Sent: Wed 8/13/03 10:17 AM
To: Robert Schneider
Cc: asa@calvin.edu; Maria R. Lichtmann
Subject: Re: Intuition in science
Robert Schneider wrote:
> My wife Maria is writing a book on teaching as a contemplative
> activity. She is including a section of her book in which she gives
> examples of persons who come to insights, understandings, and
> discoveries using intuition and other non-rational ways of knowing.
> She would like to include scientists among those who exemplify this.
>
> I told her about the German scientist who came to the insight
> about the chemical structure of benzine as a result of a (Jungian)
> dream he had about a serpent biting its tail--help me out here, who
> was the scientist and where might we find his story? And she knows
> the story of Barbara McClintock "listening" to the corn.
>
> Also, if you can think of other examples of scientists who have had
> great breakthroughs as a result of intuition and flashes of insight,
> would you write either of us about them? And, do you know of books,
> articles, etc., where she could find their stories? I'll pass along
> to her anything posted on the list.
For the discovery of the structure of the benzene ring by Kekule' (note the
accent - I'm not sure he was German though he may have been in Germany) see, e.g.,
Aaron J. Ihde, _The Development of Modern Chemistry_ (Harper & Row, New York, 1964),
p.310. It's been years since I looked at this and the whole account probably includes
more than page 310, where there is the following quote (which I may have abbreviated)
from Kekule''s description of his discovery. I think should be kept in mind when the
topic of "intuition" is considered:
"Let us learn to dream, gentlemen ... then perhaps we shall find the truth ...
but let us beware of publishing our dreams before they have been put to the
proof by the waking understanding."
Shalom,
George
George L. Murphy
gmurphy@raex.com
http://web.raex.com/~gmurphy/
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