Kieran had some thoughts on

Kieran had some thoughts on the Time Traveler's Handbook:

I've been thinking about your time traveler's guide project, and although you've probably mentioned this before, are you thinking of it as mostly a technical guide, an etiquette manual, or a combination of the two? Naturally, in a great deal of my history of science reading thus far, the tales of scientists making discoveries or inventing things in the past is just as much about the cultural and social circumstances as the time as it was about the level of scientific advancement. The social construction of scientific knowledge has, of course, figured prominently in our discussions. I can imagine you having a great time giving instructions both about what technical devices might be available to our trusty time traveler whereever he or she might land, but also mentioning that if they happen to find themselves in a salon in Victorian England to be sure they can speak knowledgeably about Vestiges on the Natural History of Creation, but not to reveal that they know who the author is unless it's after 1850.

Good advice.

Also, my brother Oliver visited Philadelphia a week or two ago, and make a great pencil drawing of an ancient Greek philosopher getting excited about playing Xbox. So that's progress, too. (Other drawings by Oliver on this site)