Jim Baggott | |
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 James Baggott, 2015 | |
| Born | (1957-03-02)2 March 1957 (age 68) |
| Alma mater | University of Oxford (DPhil) |
| Known for | Science writing |
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| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Chemical physics |
| Website | jimbaggott.com |
James Edward Baggott (born 2 March 1957) is a British author living inReading, Berkshire, England who writes about science, philosophy, and science history. Baggott is the author of nine books.[1]
Baggott told science writerBrian Clegg that the reason why he went into the sciences was because he had some great schoolteachers. He loved physics but did not think he had a strong enough talent for the mathematics that would be required. "That said, my desire to seek explanations for things led me tochemical physics and it was with a great sense of pride and pleasure that I did manage to publish some entirely theoretical research papers, full of mathematical equations!"[2]
He obtained his degree at theUniversity of Manchester in 1978[3][time needed] and his DPhil in chemical physics at theUniversity of Oxford. He worked as a professor for theUniversity of Reading and left academia to work forShell International Petroleum. After several years he opened his own training and consultancy business. He calls himself a "science communicator" and publishes a science book approximately every 18 months.[1]
Baggott felt that scientists fromCERN were getting close to discovering theHiggs boson and approached his editor about writing on the topic. His idea was to start writing the book, get about 95% done, and then, when the discovery was announced, he would be able to finish the last 5% and the book would be on the shelves very soon after the announcement.[1] Throughout 2011 and 2012 he kept updating the book, leaving the last 1,500 words unsaid. He watched CERN's live webcast announce the discovery of the boson on 4 July and finished writing the book the next day.[2]
Baggott got the idea to writeFarewell to Reality: How Modern Physics Has Betrayed the Search for Scientific Truth and become a science activist when watching theBBC programWhat is Reality. In his opinion, the program started out well, but became what he calls "fairy tale physics" when it included interviews with theoretical physicists who talked about such ideas asmultiverse,superstring theory, andsupersymmetry. These topics, according to Baggott, are fascinating to read about and are an entertaining way to make documentaries, sell books, or spend time at parties, but are "abstracted, theoretical speculation without any kind of empirical foundation" and "not science".Farewell to Reality is Baggott's attempt to counteract the "fuzzy science theory" and advocate for evidence and facts. Baggott states, "When you start asking 'Do we live in a hologram?' Then you are crossing intometaphysics, and you are heading down the path of allowing all kinds of things that have no evidence to back it up, likecreationism."[1]
In an interview withMassimo Pigliucci on theRationally Thinking podcast, Baggott stated that science is a human endeavour with a "fuzziness around the edges". He went on to say that there are no rules and, when training to be a scientist, no one gives you an instruction book on how to do science. "We kinda make it up as we go along... and it is perfectly reasonable for the scientific community to want to change those rules."[4] Science writerPhilip Ball, in a review ofFarewell inThe Guardian, stated that Baggott was right "although his target is as much the way this science is marketed as what it contains." Ball cautioned Baggott about criticising scientists who speculate because "conjecture injects vitality into science."[5]
Baggott, along withJon Butterworth,Hilary Rose and Stephen Minger, discussed the idea of futurist science theories withBBC Radio 4 interviewerAllan Little. They discussed the likelihood that string theory and other theories that have yet to show empirical data will eventually be proved. Baggott expressed concern that "a body of professional theorists want to change the definition of what it means to do science". He feels that empirical data provides an anchor for these people to "return to reality" and that science without evidence is "most dangerous".[6]
Science writerTony Hey writes thatBeyond Measure was written for graduate and undergraduate physics students as an overview of quantum mechanics. The book has wider appeal by keeping the equations to the appendices for optional review. The book is divided into five parts starting with the history behind quantum theory, followed by the more recent experiments. "Chapters on consciousness and on the ever-popular many-worlds interpretation of quantum theory form the conclusion."[7]
I don't advocate any kind of major change of direction. I just want us all to acknowledge the difference between empirically based scientific theories and metaphysics, or pseudo-science. I would question whether we should be throwing all our eggs in the string theory/multiverse/cosmic landscape basket. Perhaps it's time to consider other ways we might address the problems with the "authorized version" of reality, wherein all the available observational and experimental data are essentially secondary to the prevailing theoretical structures. These other ways would suffer from a lack of empirical foundations just the way string theory does, but there's a saying that when you find yourself in a deep hole, maybe it's time to stop digging..
Baggott is a regular contributor toNew Scientist[11][independent source needed] andNature.[12][independent source needed]
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