John Horgan (American journalist)

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John Horgan

Education	Columbia University School of Journalism (1983)
Circumstances
Occupation	Science writer, Author
Other names	"Chip" Horgan
Spouse	Suzie Horgan
Ethnicity	Caucasian - U.S.
Religious belief(s)	Agnostic
Notable credit(s)	author of The End of Science; has written for many publications, including Scientific American, The New York Times, Time and Newsweek; frequent guest on BloggingHeads.tv

John Horgan is an American science journalist best known for his 1996 book The End of Science. He has written for many publications, including Scientific American, The New York Times, Time and Newsweek. His awards include the Science Journalism Award of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the National Association of Science Writers Science-in-Society Award. His articles have been included in the 2005, 2006 and 2007 editions of The Best American Science and Nature Writing.^[1]

Horgan graduated from the Columbia University School of Journalism in 1983. Between 1986 and 1997 he was a senior writer at Scientific American.^[1]

1 "The Death of Proof" and The End of Science
2 Later work
3 Media appearances
4 Works
5 References
6 External links

[edit] "The Death of Proof" and The End of Science

His October 1993 Scientific American article, "The Death of Proof", claimed that the growing complexity of mathematics, combined with "computer proofs" and other developments, were undermining traditional concepts of mathematical proof. The article generated "torrents of howls and complaints" from mathematicians, according to David Hoffman (one of the mathematicians Horgan interviewed for the article).^[2]

Horgan's 1996 book The End of Science takes up where "The Death of Proof" leaves off: in it, Horgan argues that pure science, defined as "the primordial human quest to understand the universe and our place in it," may be coming to an end. Horgan claims that science will not achieve insights into nature as profound as evolution by natural selection, the double helix, the big bang, relativity theory or quantum theory. In the future, he suggests, scientists will refine, extend and apply this pre-existing knowledge but will not achieve any more great "revolutions or revelations."

Nobel laureate Phil Anderson's response in a Physics Today article in 1999 was strongly critical^{[citation needed]}, as were many other scientists. A front-page review in the New York Times called the book "intellectually bracing, sweepingly reported, often brilliant and sometimes bullying."^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Later work

In 1999 Horgan followed up The End of Science with The Undiscovered Mind: How the Human Brain Defies Replication, Medication and Explanation, which critiques neuroscience, psychoanalysis, psychopharmacology, evolutionary psychology, behavioral genetics, artificial intelligence and other mind-related fields. For his 2003 book Rational Mysticism,^[3] he profiled a number of scientists, mystics, and religious thinkers who have delved into the interface of science, religion and mysticism. He presents his personal impressions of these individuals and a sometimes controversial analysis of their contributions to rational mysticism and the relationship between religion and science.

In 2003, he wrote an article on the Slate magazine supporting the legalization of psychedelics such as LSD and mescaline.^[4]

In 2005, Horgan became the Director of the Center for Science Writings at the Stevens Institute of Technology, in Hoboken, NJ. From May - September, 2006, Horgan blogged as "the Scientific Curmudgeon" on the Center for Science Writings' website.

[edit] Media appearances

Horgan has been involved with a number of media appearances. Currently he is one of the co-hosts (with science writer George Johnson) of "Science Saturday", a weekly discussion related to science topics on the website BloggingHeads.tv.

[edit] Works

Horgan, John (1996), The End of Science: Facing the Limits of Science in the Twighlight of the Scientific Age. New York: Broadway Books.
Horgan, John (1999). The Undiscovered Mind: How the Human Brain Defies Replication, Medication and Explanation. New York: Touchstone.
Horgan, John and Reverend Frank Greer (2002). Where Was God on September 11? (A Scientist Asks a Ground Zero Pastor). San Francisco: Browntrout Publishers.
Horgan, John (2003). Rational Mysticism: Dispatches from the Border Between Science and Spirituality. New York: Houghton Mifflin.