The Existential Adventure: Roles of Science and Belief by Benjamin Pinkel (review)

Leonardo. Vol. 12. pp. 161-173. Pergamon Press Ltd. 1979. Printed in Great Britain. BOOKS Rimli~rs are invited to recommend hooks to hi, reviewed In generul, only hooks in English and in French can he reviewed at this stage. Those uho would like to he added to Leonardo’s panel q/ rc4en.er.s should write to the FounderEditor . indicating their particular interests. The Existential Adventure: Roles of Science and Belief. Benjamin Pinkel. DeVorss, Marina del Rey, Calif., 1976. 156 pp. $6.75. Reviewed by James A. Goldman* The world isimperfect, full of insecurity, misfortune, despair and trauma. Yet human beings strive to increase the well-being of their societyas well as individually to improve their own welfare. True it is that artists may relentlessly pursue the perfection of their talents from a motive of complete self-interest, but it is equally highly possible that simultaneously the community may derive pleasure from the artistic results. In other words, the human condition is an adventuresome experience in which existential stringencies motivate humans to great accomplishments. Suchis the view of the author, a professional engineer for over 45 years, who contends that it is belief that is central to the actions of humans. Belief systems are based on some concept of purpose. According to Pinkel, the purpose is to ‘establish a domain of worthy ideas’-that is, the function of human beings, individually and collectively,is to think and provide new ideas. Included in this goal is service to humanity. In outlining what he concedesisactually his own beliefsystem, rather than one universally agreed upon by a large number of adherents, he notes asjustification that it isthe one with which he is most familiar, and, thus, he will not be guilty of misrepresentation , which could be the case if he described some other system. Forthright as this admission is, it isalso illustrative ofthe tone of the entire book. Pinkel acknowledges that his belief system, as is invariably that of others, is borrowed selectivelyfrom existing philosophies and religions. Consequently, it is not particularly unexpected that included in the guidlines for his belief system is: ‘Thebeliefs should call for the continuing growth of man’s ethics and behavior toward enhancing the dignity of man’s stature.’ Related axioms are: ‘Belief that man is a most exalted instrument of God . . . . Belief that man has real freedom of choice and is responsible for his acts.’ It is evident that Pinkel’s system is fundamentally optimistic and that it rejects the tenets of behaviorism, survivalism and natural humanistic philosophy. Pinkel makes some provocative observations. Noting that the human condition is a complex of good and evil, he remarks that when it is viewed in the expectation of perfection, evil is in such sharp relief that disillusionment may develop. If, however, men are mechanical or stimulus responders, then ‘good stands out as inexplicable, man’s conscience as a miracle’. He also remarks that an ‘atheisticexistientialist[Sartre, Camus]is in the untenable position ofespousingan idealisticviewpoint whilecalling himself a materialist’. The test of beliefs is one’s attitudes and behavior. The author ranges widely in modern physics, philosophy, psychologyand traditional religion and ethics. He insists upon a dualism of scienceand belief(a term hechooses), and throughout his discussion is the challenge of the view that science will eventually explain all natural phenomena. Pinkel’s existential adventure is his personal response to the current troubles besetting the world. It was not primarily *Div. of Continuing Education & Extension Services, New York City Community College, Brooklyn, NY 11201, U.S.A. published for scholarly criticism by either philosophers, scientistsor artists. It is a personal statement based on one man’s experience, thought and reading. Obviously, although this book is not one that iscrucial to the library of an artist or a scientist, it is nonetheless one that undoubtedly will strike a note of likemindedness in some readers of Leonardo. Perspectives on the Emergence of Scientific Disciplines. Gerard Lemaine. Roy MacLeod, Michael Mulkay and Peter Weingart, eds. Mouton, The Hague and Aldine,Chicago, Ill., 1976.281pp.. DM 50.00. Reviewed by James A. Goldman This collection of 12essayson issues involved in the study of the history and sociology of scientific development is essentially a...