From Alan Steele, VP, Director of Studio Services, Palio

A review of The Invention of Air: A story of science, faith, revolution, and the birth of America, by Steven Johnson

This book discusses the interdependence of faith, politics, and science during the Enlightenment in England, America, and France. Joseph Priestly epitomized the multi-disciplinarian scholar of this eighteenth century era by engaging in revolutionary chemical experiments in the laboratory, challenging established Christian thinking by founding the Unitarian movement, and corresponding with Benjamin Franklin and other American politicians to advance democracies and overthrow monarchies. He theorized that, by using scientific method, trial and error, and reason, the world would become a better place. However, progress undermines tradition; because of his radical views, Priestly’s home in Birmingham, England was torched by a mob.

Priestly is remembered most for discovering different kinds of air. By placing a mouse in an enclosed jar he noticed it died within seconds. A mint sprig however, under the same conditions, survived. With a mouse and a mint sprig together, the mouse survived longer. Priestly determined plants give off oxygen which animals breathe, animals give off carbon dioxide which plants use, along with sunshine, for photosynthesis. Priestly also discovered, when carbon dioxide was added to still water, the water became carbonized, the basis for soda.

A large theme of this book is that collaboration is necessary during revolutionary eras. The London Coffee House served as a gathering place for intellectuals. The Lunar Men (lunatiks) met during the full moon in Birmingham. Letters were exchanged across the Atlantic Ocean via post, papers were written and distributed; information flowed freely. Ideas influence and are influenced by other ideas (influence: “to flow into”, influere, Latin). To contrast, a medieval monk scribing alone and without means to share his work, has little ability to influence or be influenced.

The author argues that cultural systems exist on many levels from the smallest neurological transfer, to individuals, to social groups, to global energy flows. This ecosystem perspective explains that when more of these layers of cultural systems are synchronous, the opportunity for invention is greatest.

Do you think we are living in such a time now?