Portrait of John Desmond Bernal

John Desmond Bernal

Scientist
May 10, 1901 – September 15, 1971

John Desmond Bernal was an Irish-born British scientist known for his pioneering work in X-ray crystallography and molecular biology, as well as his contributions to the philosophy of science and socialist thought. A key figure in the development of structural biology, Bernal made significant advances in understanding the atomic structure of organic molecules, including proteins and viruses. His research laid the foundation for later breakthroughs in DNA structure determination. Beyond his scientific achievements, Bernal was deeply involved in science policy and advocacy. He championed the role of science in society, particularly in relation to war, industrial progress, and socialist planning. A committed Marxist, he argued that scientific research should be directed toward social benefit rather than profit. His influential works, such as The Social Function of Science (1939), explored the interplay between scientific progress and economic systems.

Bernal also played an important role in World War II, advising the British military on scientific applications, including the planning of the D-Day landings. His later career saw him engage in international science diplomacy, particularly through UNESCO and collaborations with Soviet scientists. Despite facing political controversy during the Cold War due to his communist affiliations, Bernal remained a respected figure in both scientific and intellectual circles. Nicknamed “Sage” for his encyclopedic knowledge and visionary ideas, Bernal's legacy extends across multiple disciplines, influencing generations of scientists, historians, and political thinkers.

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Mentioned in 3 documents

Ludwig von Bertalanffy

General System Theory

In his seminal work, biologist Ludwig von Bertalanffy outlines a theory of systems that breaks down disciplinary boundaries and argues that there are general principles and laws applicable to systems of all kinds. He contends that phenomena should be viewed not in isolation but as components of systems interacting with their environments. Bertalanffy proposes that there are commonalities across biological, physical, and social systems that can be explored through systems thinking. He suggests the need for an overarching systems science to uncover these universal system principles. The book develops key concepts like open and closed systems, steady states, growth, feedback, homeostasis, differentiation, hierarchy, and emergence. General System Theory was groundbreaking in its interdisciplinary approach and helped foster the growth of systems theory across academia and society.

Frank Tipler

The Omega Point as Eschaton

Frank Tipler presents an outline of the Omega Point theory, which is a model for an omnipresent, omniscient, omnipotent, evolving, personal God who is both transcendent to spacetime and immanent in it, and who exists necessarily. The model is a falsifiable physical theory, deriving its key concepts not from any religious tradition but from modern physical cosmology and computer science; from scientific materialism rather than revelation. Four testable predictions of the model are given. The theory assumes that thinking is a purely physical process of the brain, and that personality dies with the brain. Nevertheless, he shows that the Omega Point theory suggests a future universal resurrection of the dead very similar to the one predicted in the Judeo-Christian-Islamic tradition. The notions of “grace” and the “beatific vision” appear naturally in the model.

Christof Koch

Then I Am Myself the World

Neuroscientist Christof Koch explores the nature of consciousness, blending scientific research with personal experiences, including his own psychedelic journey. He examines how our brains generate subjective experiences, discusses the transformative potential of altered states, and delves into Integrated Information Theory to propose that consciousness arises from the brain's intrinsic causal power.