Book review: 'The Half-Life of Facts' by Samuel Arbesman
Although we generally tend to consider facts as objective truths, many types of facts are actually in flux. Facts change when scientists make new discoveries, or when errors are corrected, for instance.
by Samuel Arbesman
Current
Although we generally tend to consider facts as objective truths, many types of facts are actually in flux. Facts change when scientists make new discoveries, or when errors are corrected, for instance.
The Half-life of Facts analyses how facts change, the rate at which they change, and what this means for our everyday lives.
Epistemology is a branch of philosophy that deals with knowledge - what we know, what we can know, and how we know it. But Samuel Arbesman, who is not schooled in philosophy, steers clear of this approach. Instead, he sticks to what he understands: statistics, and how they can be usefully applied. The author's big idea is to mine the available data and literature on scientific advances to construct a model of the speed of change. If we know how fast things change, he thinks, we will not be surprised by new developments.
His results are interesting. The sum total of knowledge in the field of medicine and hygiene takes 87 years to double, mathematics takes 63 years, and chemistry only 35. Physics textbooks become outdated after 13.07 years, maths textbooks last 9.17 years, and history books only last 7.13 years. It's important to be aware of this, says the author, as it prepares us for new things, and prods us to keep our thinking up to date.
A portion of the book looks at how facts are spread, and how they are accidentally changed to become inaccurate in the process. Although Arbesman refers to facts, he is writing more about the wider subject of information here. This was dealt with in great detail in James Gleick's fascinating 500-page tome The Information last year.