The Science of Discworld II

94
    politics
    â€˜lies-to-adults’ 291–2
    memetics 345
    polyphyletic species 122
    polytheism 172
    popular music 263
    population, early humans 122–5
    potential energy 45
    prayer 246
    predators
    co-evolution 310
    and human evolution 90–1
    predictions
    chaos theory 304–5
    cheating 307–8
    complex systems 305–6
    divination 168
    evolution 309–10
    prophecy 173–4
    scientific method 240, 248
    storytelling and 166, 171
    of universe 304–5
    Y2K 173–4
    pre-formation theory 72
    present
    predicting future 303–5
    and sense of music 274
    prey, co-evolution 310
    Price, Derek de Solla 237
    prices, Law of Supply and Demand 51
    pride 138–9
    priests 157
    negative effects of 208–9
    predictions 166
    rituals 136, 210, 217–18
    â€˜primitive’ tribes, music 263, 264–5
    printing 99
    privilege, in evolution 93
    The Privileged Ape (Cohen) 74*, 136
    Prodigal Son 116
    prophets 156–7, 166, 170, 171, 173–4
    proteins 186
    protons
    carbon formation 28–9
    models of atom 247
    psychology 73
    puberty rituals 134–7
    Puck 157
    punishment 167
    pygmy elephants 112
    pyramid selling 329
    Pythagoras’s Theorem 192
    Pythagoreans 270
    pythons 109
    Q
    qualia, consciousness 22
    quantum mechanics 165, 198
    and free will 174–5
    information universe 196–7
    â€˜many-worlds’ concept 197–8, 313
    Planck’s constant 28
    predictions 306–7
    Theory of Everything 247
    questions
    â€˜what if’ questions 155–6, 311
    â€˜why’ questions 47
    R
    racial differences, humans 122
    radio 344
    radioactivity 68
    rainbows 293
    Ramapithecus 108
    Reagan, Ronald 66
    reality, perception and 289–90
    recognition of other people 282
    red giant stars 28, 29, 30
    reflexes 154
    relativity
    theory of 249
    time travel 314–15
    religion 205–13
    atrocities 218, 220, 221–2
    beliefs 206–8, 218–22
    cargo cults 80
    cat worship 120–1
    conflicts with science and technology 171–2, 241
    cultural identity 98
    gods 205–6
    memetics 331–3, 345
    monotheism 172–3, 247
    pantheism 77
    priests 208–10
    prophets 166
    â€˜right way to heaven’ 157
    rituals 217–18
    rules 212
    storytelling 326
    tribal conflict 132*
    universe and 209–12, 213
    worldviews 248
    Renaissance 65–6, 69–70, 71–2, 76, 344
    â€˜Renaissance man’ 69
    resonance, carbon formation 27, 29–30
    retina 266–7, 268, 289
    rewards, smiles as 153–4
    Reynolds, Len 271*
    rhythms
    music 274
    patterns of movement 269–70
    ribosomes 186–7
    Rite of Spring (Stravinsky) 264
    rituals
    priesthood 136, 210, 217–18
    puberty rituals 134–7
    and tribal identity 95–6
    robust forms, evolution 109–11, 113
    Roca, Alfred 111
    rockets, Moon landings 27
    Roman Empire 69, 99
    romantic stories 75
    roses, perception of 289–90
    Rothschild family 141
    Rudolf II, Emperor 68
    rules 324
    child development 77
    complex systems 305
    dynamical systems 303–4
    fairy tales 155*
    of history 302–3, 308
    of physical world 77
    religion 212
    tribalism 116, 167
    rumours 328
    Rumpelstiltskin 115, 116, 327
    Russia 275
    S
    sabretooth tigers 310
    Sakhmet 120
    sal ammoniac 66, 68
    Samoa 264
    sand, phase space 47–8
    savannahs 90–1, 92, 108–9
    Schechem 139–40
    Schrödinger, Erwin 306*
    Schrödinger’s equation 306–7, 326
    science 235–50
    conflicts with religion 171–2, 241
    defining 235, 236, 239
    development of 238
    God and 77
    hidden knowledge 71–2
    limitations 72
    models 247–8
    objection to alternative theories 75–6
    and pantheism 77
    paradigm shifts 249
    predictions 166
    Renaissance 69, 71–2
    role of 246
    scientific method 32, 239–41, 243–5, 248–9, 344
    spellings 236*
    as storytelling 246–7, 248, 326
    teaching with lies 293
    technology and 238
    worldviews 248
    Science 111
    Science and Spirit 215
    science fiction
    â€˜alternate universe’ stories 312–13
    time travel 313–14
    scientists, ‘philosopause’ 238–9
    scientology 72
    seafood, and human evolution 92
    seasickness 274
    Second Law of Thermodynamics 55, 57, 189–91, 193, 196
    seeds 331
    selection, puberty rituals 134–7
    Self, sense of 21
    The Selfish Gene (Dawkins) 328
    semaphore 181, 183, 188
    sense organs 266–9, 284, 286–7
    sentences, hearing 273
    Sephardi 141
    Seton, Alexander 68
    sex
    adultery 142
    in nursery stories