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The Ascent of Man

Episode 11 - Knowledge or Certainty. Jacob Bronowski talks about physics and and the clash of the pursuit of absolute vs. imperfect knowledge, and the misgivings of the scientists realizing the terrible outcome of the conflict. While a group of academics were making considerable discoveries in the world of physics and chemistry at the University of Gottingen, the world outside was slipping into the barbarism of World War II. Leo Szilard made crucial discoveries that led to the atomic bomb, but then tried to prevent its use against people. This episode ends with Bronowski outside the camp at Auschwitz, where many of his relatives perished.

Episode 11 - Knowledge or Certainty


Related Links
Nuclear Weapon - wikipedia
A nuclear weapon is an explosive device that derives its destructive force from nuclear reactions, either fission or a combination of fission and fusion.
Chemical Weapon - wikipedia
A chemical weapon (CW) is a device that uses chemicals formulated to inflict death or harm on human beings. They are classified as weapons of mass destruction though they are separate from biological weapons (diseases), nuclear weapons, and radiological weapons.


Go to The Ascent of Man Home or watch other episodes:

Episode 01 - Lower Than the Angels
Episode 02 - The Harvest of the Seasons
Episode 03 - The Grain in the Stone
Episode 04 - The Hidden Structure
Episode 05 - Music of the Spheres
Episode 06 - The Starry Messenger
Episode 07 - The Majestic Clockwork
Episode 08 - The Drive for Power
Episode 09 - The Ladder of Creation
Episode 10 - World within World
Episode 11 - Knowledge or Certainty
Episode 12 - Generation upon Generation
Episode 13 - The Long Childhood