Space-Age Science and Stone-Age Politics

Download (PDF, 2.94MB)

About the Author:

John Scales Avery is a theoretical chemist at the University of Copenhagen. He is noted for his books and research publications in quantum chemistry, thermodynamics, evolution, and history of science. His 2003 book Information Theory and Evolution set forth the view that the phenomenon of life, including its origin, evolution, as well as human cultural evolution, has its background situated in the fields of thermodynamics, statistical mechanics, and information theory. Since 1990 he has been the Chairman of the Danish National Group of Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs. Between 2004 and 2015 he also served as Chairman of the Danish Peace Academy. He founded the Journal of Bioenergetics and Biomembranes, and was for many years its Managing Editor. He also served as Technical Advisor to the World Health Organization, Regional Office for Europe (1988-1997).

About the Book:

Looking beneath the surface of today’s news stories, we can discern an explosive mixture – Space-Age Science and Stone-Age Politics. This book discusses the tensions created by the rapid rate of scientific and technological change, contrasted with the slow rate of change of our political institutions. Because of the enourmous destructive power of modern weapons, and because of today’s instantaneous global communication, the institution of war has become a dangerous anachronism, and indeed the absolutely-sovereign nation-state has also become an anachronism. “Space-Age Science and Stone-Age Politics” discusses the steps we must take to harmonize our social and political institutions with the constantly accelerating achievements of science and technology.

We thank John for giving us permission to reproduce it for EACPE. Click here to read this book in Urdu language.