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Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman! Study Guide

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by Richard Feynman
About 49 pages (14,634 words)
Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman! Summary

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Part 5: Cargo Cult Science Summary and Analysis

The book ends with a CalTech commencement address Feynman delivered in 1974. Feynman laments that, with a large numbers of the general populace giving credence to ESP, astrology, and other supernatural phenomena, the world may be just as rational and unscientific as it was in the middle ages.

He warns these new CalTech graduates that they are going to have to confront these obstacles in their careers as scientists. He also warns them that "pseudoscience" can slip into other, less obvious places, unnoticed, and uses pop psychology on pedagogy and parenting techniques as examples. He compares these misleading belief systems to the "cargo cults" of the south pacific. These tribal people witnessed planes landing, filled with supplies. Wanting a plane full of food, clothing and weapons to land.....

This is a free excerpt of 135 words. This section contains 353 words. This study guide contains 14,634 words (approx. 49 pages at 300 words per page).

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Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman! from BookRags and Gale's For Students Series. ©2005-2006 Thomson Gale, a part of the Thomson Corporation. All rights reserved.

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