Varadaraja V. Raman taught physics and humanities for over 30 years. He is an Emeritus Professor at the Rochester Institute of Technology. He authored many papers and articles on various aspects of science and its impacts on society. (For his books I’ve read, click on his name.)

This book’s Preface explains why he felt the need to write this book: “We live in a world dominated by a technology which has its roots in science. Yet, there is not a universal understanding of what science is. Science is often equated with technology, and is even regarded as just another way of looking at the world. The knowledge gained from science is sometimes taken to be no more valid than knowledge from speculative or religious systems. Many believe that science is just another mode of knowing the universe. Some even think that the results of modern science are implicit in the sacred books of traditional religions.

“Modern science is a serious enterprise. It is pursued by an international community of bright people from many lands and cultures, belonging to every race and religion. Its fruits come from the labors of people who do not take lightly the challenge of unraveling the roots of perceived reality. The knowledge that modern science has brought during the past four centuries far exceeds everything our ancestors had gathered during the preceding ten thousand years. The impact of science has been more significant than anything else that has emerged from the mind of Homo sapiens.

“The purpose of this book is to present to the reader the framework in which modern science functions. In one chapter (II) of the book there is a discussion of worldviews prior to the rise of modern science, and in another (III) there is a brief review of the rise of modern science.” Thus Ch II and Ch III are mainly historical in nature. This requires discussing the most significant changes in the worldviews of nature that, taken together, have led to today’s modern science.

The Table of Contents shows how he systematically and concisely accomplishes what the Preface strongly suggests is needed – not needed for today’s scientists, but for today’s non-scientists to understand how and why scientific work proceeds, and how it has led to the amazing increase in the knowledge that scientists have obtained in the past four centuries: Ch I is Science: Definitions, Goals, and Assumptions; Ch II is Pre-modern Worldviews; Ch III is Emergence of Modern Science; Ch IV is The Framework of Modern Science; Ch V is The Methodology of Modern Science; Ch VI is Laws, Theories, and Hypotheses; Ch VII is The Role of Mathematics in Science; Ch VIII is The Role of Instruments in Science; and Ch IX is Science and Religion.

Ch I stresses the importance of describing well the essential foundations of science. Unlike other endeavors of the human mind – such as art, music, history, and the variety of social sciences, precise definitions and assumptions must be clearly spelled out in order to achieve meaningful results of any scientific goal. Then Ch IV – Ch VIII systematically describes the stages by which advancement takes place, albeit at times with “fits and starts” that always accompany new scientific paradigms. As such, these six chapters summarize what scientists already know when engaged in a forefront study of any field of basic science by controlled experiments or observations – both these two types of research are always strongly subjected to in-depth examination and critique by colleagues and peers. There is somewhat less scrutiny for applied science (or engineering) that uses established science results to improve or innovate new technologies. Applied science is usually only slightly behind the new scientific results. Since applied-science research focuses on new instruments or new technology, it is the reason a non-scientific public makes the mistake, as V.V. Raman said in his Preface, of thinking that “Science is often equated with technology.” This book, which is at a level suitable for a high-school graduate with only a little math background, would teach them what they need to know to understand what science is.

Ch IX – Science and Religion – is an area of great interest to V.V. and me, as well as many others. In only 16 pages Varadaraja V. Raman discusses these two with exquisite conciseness, beginning with comments about those who see conflict between religion and science or mysticism and science. Most of Ch IX focuses on a framework for bridge-building for such conflicted people. He does this by discussing “dimensions” and “roles” of science and religion, the attitudes of practitioners, and, of most importance, facts and truths. In brief, he says “A fact refers to the existence/presence of a thing or an event as perceived by these faculties [our sensory faculties].” …”A truth, on the other hand, is the interpretation and apprehension of a fact.” So there can be unanimity of agreement about facts, but “Every aspect of a truth bears a relation to the mind that takes it as such.” He proposes a framework for understanding the relevance and importance of science and religion – a set of six principles. He then discusses Nature and Supernature, Nature and Subnature, Science and Non-science, and ends with a brief subsection on Goals of Science-Religion Dialogues. I found Ch IX to be especially insightful. (For an excellent, in-depth and thorough discussion of science and religion, he has provided such in book 317 “Truth and Tension in Science and Religion,” which I very highy recommend.) I also highly recommend book 354, especially for anyone who wants to understand more about ‘real’ science in all its aspects, as well as for anyone who wants to refresh or review their understanding of science.