I know it's too soon, but what the hell... Am I the only one who see the irony in the fact that "Hitch" checked out on the very same day that scientists found proof of the "God Particle" ?
... He didn't. He passed on some time after. The announcement of the possible traces of the Higgs Boson (note, they didn't find "proof" of it yet) of course came some time after the actual discoveries.
Was it ironic that Hitchens passed on the day of the announcement? No.
Calling it the "God Particle" in no way links it to religion. Nobody is actually saying this is a particle of a god; rather, it's a piece of physics that makes our universe possible.
"Its theistic nickname was coined by Nobel prizewinning physicist Leon Lederman, but Higgs himself is no fan of the label. "I find it embarrassing because, though I'm not a believer myself, I think it is the kind of misuse of terminology which I think might offend some people."
According to Higgs, it wasn't even Lederman's choice to call it the god particle: "He wanted to refer to it as that 'goddamn particle' and his editor wouldn't let him."
... He didn't. He passed on some time after. The announcement of the possible traces of the Higgs Boson (note, they didn't find "proof" of it yet) of course came some time after the actual discoveries.
ReplyDeleteWas it ironic that Hitchens passed on the day of the announcement? No.
Calling it the "God Particle" in no way links it to religion. Nobody is actually saying this is a particle of a god; rather, it's a piece of physics that makes our universe possible.
"Its theistic nickname was coined by Nobel prizewinning physicist Leon Lederman, but Higgs himself is no fan of the label. "I find it embarrassing because, though I'm not a believer myself, I think it is the kind of misuse of terminology which I think might offend some people."
According to Higgs, it wasn't even Lederman's choice to call it the god particle: "He wanted to refer to it as that 'goddamn particle' and his editor wouldn't let him."
And another article on how Scientists dislike the label:
http://news.nationalpost.com/2011/12/14/the-higgs-boson-why-scientists-hate-that-you-call-it-the-god-particle/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irony
ReplyDeleteI meant it in the most ironic way possible. An irreverent tribute, if I may...
Ah, well your usage was actually more of "coincidence" than "irony" but alright.
ReplyDeleteThis is my favourite page explaining "irony" http://theoatmeal.com/comics/irony I love The Oatmeal :)
ReplyDelete