Beauty in Science

It seemed interesting to me that many of our readings thus far have contained some element, whether stated or implied, of the importance of beauty in science. Most obvious was the Hawthorne piece in which science fell short of achieving perfect beauty in the form of Georgina. More so even than in achieving happiness and peace of mind for himself and his wife, it appeared that Aylmer was ultimately concerned with seeing his science triumph by creating unmarred beauty. The Cavendish piece was another example of the concern for beauty exhibited by "scientists" during the 1600's (as well as later centuries). Though in the beginning of the piece she admits she was "not able to give a solid judgment of the art of micrography and the several dioptrical instruments belonging thereto", basically saying she has no idea how microscopes work, she deems herself worthy of dismissing the usefulness of this instrument based pretty much on one criterion. The images revealed by the microscope turn ordinary objects into disfigured caricatures of their unmagnified forms, a progression from beautiful to ugly. Cavendish sees the aim of science as illuminating and beautifying the world around her, and since the microscope accomplishes the opposite it must be defective and without value. The final example I saw of the importance of beauty in science came from the Bacon piece. As the lost voyagers become more acquainted with the ways of the island, they grow more and more impressed. Bensalem is a model country endowed with a fair and just government, a friendly populace, and a deep commitment to religion (Christianity) and morality, and wow, they even tolerate Jews. However the final revelation of Bensalem's greatness is accomplished through the author's conversation with the Father of Salomon's House. The Father explains the amazing wealth of knowledge and technological prowess enjoyed by Bensalem's population of resident scientists, and constantly reiterates that their science is far more advanced than that of other countries. Thus it seems that in Bacon's world the place of greatest beauty (in terms of morality, justice, peace, etc.) is supported by its possession of the most advanced science.