Аннотация: Michael Faraday. An Induction of a Readers' Interest. Essay. Translation from Russian into English: March 14, 2018 - March 26, 2018. Владимир Владимирович Залесский "Майкл Фарадей. Индукция читательского интереса. Очерк".
Michael Faraday. An Induction of a Readers' Interest. Essay
1. "Geographical induction". London - Port Huron - Vienna - Niagara Falls.
In Thomas Edison's biography we meet - among others - place names: Port Huron, Vienna. Having addressed the map, we find relatively near Port Huron geographical designations: London and Niagara Falls.
Of course, the settlement on the northern coast of Lake Erie under the name Vienna was not nice European capital city, located in the 19th century within the Austro-Hungarian empire at all.
And the American London was not that historical capital - London - which is in England.
But the power plant built at Niagara Falls was precisely the technical structure in which the knowledge, discoveries and efforts of Michael Faraday, Thomas Edison, Nikola Tesla were embodied.
Michael Faraday (1791 - 1867) was born in the British capital, London, Thomas Edison (1847 - 1931) has grown up near the American Great Lakes and was living in the childhood in Port Huron, Nikola Tesla (1856 - 1943) was the native of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Military Frontier (Krajina).
Both Nikola Tesla, and Thomas Edison recognized the importance, greatness of a figure of Michael Faraday.
"Edison was born at the beginning of the new technical revolution made by electricity. Sixteen years ago Michael Faraday, rotating a copper disk between poles of a horseshoe magnet, have received an electric current. However, decades have passed, until the ingenious discovery of electromagnetic induction has become an active force of industrial technical equipment" (Лапиров-Скобло М. Я. 'Эдисон' [Michael Lapirov-Skoblo 'Edison']).
"In Boston Edison has for the first time became to studying of works by Faraday, which he has accidentally acquired from the bookseller. They had huge value for all future activity of Edison.
Adams, living at that time together with him, tells how Edison proud of acquisition of such remarkable books has come home in four o'clock in the morning after a night telegraph watch, has sat down at the book reading and has come off only during a lunch to run to the dining room. Rising because of a table, Edison has said: "Adams, I need to make still very much, and life is so short; I have to hurry"" ([Michael Lapirov-Skoblo 'Edison']).
"In the year of Edison's arrival in Boston (1867) the greatest experimenter and ingenious creator of the theory of electricity Faraday died. At the end of the 19th century the wide way for the Faraday's ideas was opened by a brilliant group of his followers - scientists, experimenters, engineers. Edison was among them.
In the last year of his life Edison was asked: what book has brought him the greatest benefit during his life? He has briefly answered: "The Book about the Faraday's experiments"" ([Michael Lapirov-Skoblo 'Edison']).
At visit by Nikola Tesla of London in 1892 recognition of his scientific merits has been expressed to him. And N. Tesla, in turn, has shown recognition of a scientific contribution of M. Faraday and respect for this great scientist. As it is possible to understand, the British insisted on an additional lecture which a reading wasn't in the initial plans of Nikola Tesla. Margaret Cheney so describes these events.
"His lecture to society of Electrical Engineers in London has been called the main scientific event and when it has come to an end, the British didn't want to release him.
"Sir James Dewar insisted on my emergence before Royal Society, - Tesla remembered. - I was the person who is firmly following the made decision, but have easily given in to convincing arguments of the great Scot. He has seated of me in a chair and has poured in a glass of surprising brown liquid which sparkled all colors of the rainbow and on taste was similar to nectar".
To the Tesla's surprise, the Dewar has told: "Now you sit in the Faraday's chair and you enjoy whisky which was loved by him" .... When Tesla has received assurances that nobody around the world has deserved such honors any more, he has accepted the proposal of the Dewar. The French could wait one more day.
His lecture before Royal Society of Great Britain at which there was an elite of the scientific world has brought a set of praises to the young inventor" (Чейни М. 'Тесла. Человек из будущего' [Cheney M. "Tesla. The person from the future"]).
"Michael (Mikhail) Faraday is a founder of modern electrical equipment. With his theoretical achievements, he pointed out a simple and economical method of converting mechanical work into electric current energy. The greatest scientific discoveries of Faraday - there are the scientific base of electrical equipment of our days.
Everywhere, where we put at the service of a human an electronic stream, we go in the way of Faraday. Whether we launch a motor, whether we switch on a light an electric bulb, whether we speak by phone, whether we use an electromagnetic waves for a post-service functions, whether we listen to a radio, whether we compel to force to serve ourselves a potencial of modern electrochemistry, whether we watch the television program or we accept signals of satellites - in all these cases we use in a varying degree a results Faraday's works" ([Michael Lapirov-Skoblo 'Edison']).
Both Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison understood that they used those discoveries which have been made by Michael Faraday.
Acquaintance with Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison's biographies has naturally made a subject of my consideration of the biography of Michael Faraday.
A search on the Internet has given several noticeable and a public Russian-speaking biographic sources about life and Michael Faraday's activity.
2. Robin Hood's arrows and a shooters of an measuring instruments of Michael Faraday.
2.1 "Literary secrets" exist.
A biographic works available to me about Michael Faraday were characterized by the different level of the my personal reader's interest.
Reading them, I have paid attention that the M.I. Radovsky's biographical work was readable most interestingly and easily - at my subjective view (Радовский М. И. 'Фарадей'. М., 1936. - 176 с.; Radovsky M.I. 'Faraday'. M, 1936. - 176 pages [Radovsky M.I. 'Faraday']).
I have asked a question: why?
As well as all biographers, M.I. Radovsky notes that Michael Faraday is a researcher well-known and deserved, the person an extraordinary.
But this an ascertainment in itself would hardly make a talented biographic work by M.I. Radovsky much attractive for readers.
All the Faraday's biographers, the authors of works on history of physics and chemistry write about his (Faraday) extraordinariness and about his merits. (See, for example: (1) Абрамов Я. В. Фарадей: Его жизнь и научная деятельность. 1892. - 80 с. - 8100 экз.; Abramov Ya.V. Faraday: His life and scientific activity. 1892. - 80 pages - 8100 copies [Abramov Ya. V. "Michael Faraday. His life and scientific activity"]; (2) 'Наука. Величайшие теории: выпуск 19: Наука высокого напряжения. Фарадей. Электромагнитная индукция. / Пер. с исп. - М.: Де Агостини, 2015 - 160 с.'; "Science. The greatest theories: release 19: Science of high voltage. Faraday. Electromagnetic induction. / The translation from Spanish. - M.: De Agostini, 2015 - 160 pages" [Faraday. Electromagnetic induction]).
"A scientific discoveries of the Oersted, Arago, Ampere have interested the ingenious English physicist Michael Faraday and have induced him to be engaged in all circle of questions of transformation of electric and magnetic energy into mechanical. In 1821 he has found one more solution of an objective of transformation of electric and magnetic energy into mechanical and has shown the device in which he received the phenomenon of continuous electromagnetic rotation. On the same day Faraday has written the conter-version of the task in the working diary: "To turn magnetism into electricity". More than ten years it was required to solve it and to find a way of obtaining an electric energy from a magnetic and mechanical energies. Only at the end of 1831 Faraday has reported about opening of the phenomenon. He called it, later, an electromagnetic induction. This phenomenon is a fundamentals of all modern power industry" (Ржонсницкий Б. Н. 'Никола Тесла' [Rzhonsnitsky B. N. "Nicola Tesla"]).
What are the "literary secrets" by M. I. Radovsky?
Firstly, the general benevolent - even "warm" - phrasing. It is possible that subconsciously the name option chosen by M.I. Radovsky - Mikhail influences (but not Michael). Mikhail - a Russian-speaking option of a name.
Secondly, a reader meets with considerable number of entertaining biographic details.
There are a separate information segments in the book by M.I. Radovsky:
(1) relations of M. Faraday with children, (2) of his interest in animals. M.I. Radovsky shortly says about the wishes and about the possibilities of M. Faraday (in the period of ailments) spend more time at the nature, near the sea.
In the third, a focusing of author's attention of M.I. Radovsky is characteristic.
How it, this author's attention, is focused?
2.2. "An information shading" as a literary method.
On the one hand, readers will practically not find in his book such biographic elements as
(a) a deep religiousness of Michael Faraday, his an inclusiveness in an activity of the religious community, his situation in the religious community (Perhaps, such an author's approach was caused by a political and ideological situation in which the M.I. Radovsky's work was written).
("... A part of his success, probably, relies on religious beliefs of the scientist who was the member of the Protestant community (Sandemanian denomination) which strictly and literally treats the Scripture"; "members of this community considered poverty the dignity of the person; the Jesus himself who was the poor said that it is easier for a camel to pass through a needle's ear than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven" ([Faraday. Electromagnetic induction. Pages 17, 23])).
(b) the taking care of Faraday's place of residence from the English queen at the final stage of life of the researcher. ("In 1858 the Queen Victoria has provided to Faraday in lifelong use the house ..." ([Faraday. Electromagnetic induction. Page 137])). About granting the house by the Queen Victoria to the aging and unhealthy M. Faraday I haven't found in the book by M.I. Radovsky of data.
The help from the British state to the needy residents of London, being on the verge of starvation, in book by M.I. Radovsky is shown slightly vaguely. (In their number - needy residents of London - had included family of Faraday when Michael was at early age).
"The Napoleonic wars of the beginning of the 19th century were followed by unprecedented impoverishment of a people at the majority of the European countries. The financial position of James Faraday, despite his diligence and indefatigability, was so heavy that in 1801 he had to address public aid" ([Radovsky M.I. 'Faraday'. Page 7-8]).
("Faraday received a welfare grant from the English government: bread for a week was allocated to family, and having only this help, in search of constant earnings, they have been forced to move in 1796 to the northern district of London, to Veymut Street" ([Faraday. Electromagnetic induction. Pages 22-23])).
The Dens Dzhunr's help is vaguely mentioned by M.I. Radovsky: "Faraday enjoyed also attention and a favor of an erudite visitors of the shop and the bookbinding workshop of Ribot.
One of them, somebody Dens, the member of Royal society, has advised the diligent bookbinder to attend public lectures of Davy, the famous English chemist who read them in the Royal Institution, where Davy was a professor and the director of laboratory" ([Radovsky M.I. 'Faraday'. Page 15-16]). We will note that tickets cost essential money; M. Faraday dreamed of visit of these lectures, but his financial position didn't allow to acquire tickets for them.
("Once the person by the name of Dens Dzhunr, the member of the Royal society, has entered the Ribot's shop. Dzhunr interested in one of the books intertwined by Faraday. On the pages there were Faraday's marks which he did at the Tatum's meeting. Dzhunr has asked the book for some time. Ribot has agreed. In several weeks the book has returned to the shop, and among her pages a four sheets lay. Faraday with big surprise has found out that it were tickets for the following cycle of the public lectures of Humphry Davy" ([Faraday. Electromagnetic induction. Page 30])).
The quote from A.V. Kamensky is involuntarily remembered : "Reading friendly correspondence ... between Bolton, Vedzhvud and others, you don't know what to be surprised more in these people of the 18th century: whether fidelity of understanding of the public duties or sincere sympathy, sensitivity and modesty with which they helped each other" (Каменский А. В. 'Джемс Уатт' [Kamensky A. V. "James Watt"]). We reformulate: "you don't know what to be surprised more in these people of the 19th century... "
Since the Royal Institution was mentioned above, we quote a quotation to explain the "device" of this institution.
"The Royal Institution, despite the official name, like most scientific institutions of England, represents itself creation of a private initiative. The Royal Institution have been founded by private society... "Royal" he has received the name because among founders of institute there was also a king George III. The Royal Institution is created for the purpose of providing to scientists conveniences to scientific occupations, integration of their works, and mainly - for a distribution of scientific knowledge by a popular readings on different branches of natural sciences. (...) The institute possesses own house in one of the remote not bustling streets of the western London where there are the chemical laboratory, the richest natural-science library, collections of scientific tools, rooms for reading, audiences and so on" ([Abramov Ya. V. "Michael Faraday. His life and scientific activity"]).
Such biographic element as the pension was granted by the British state to M. Faraday (who was gradually losing working capacity) was mentioned by M.I. Radovsky, but in a context "partly conflict interaction" with the prime minister.
For the width of perception we will give this biographic episode (the appointment of the state pension to M. Faraday who has begun to have problems with health) in the Ya.V. Abramov's version:
"In 1835 the first minister of England of that time, the sir Robert Peel, able to appreciate people of science and knowing modesty of means of Faraday, has offered him the state pension as weak remuneration for his great scientific discoveries.
Faraday has answered with the letter in which he expressed the opinion that "the government is doing absolutely fairly, awarding and supporting science". But at the same time Faraday refuses flatly pension, finding that he "himself is still able to earn to himself means of living".
Peel, however, insisted on the offer; friends and the family convinced Faraday to accept pension, and he, at last, has agreed. At this time there was a change of the ministry, and the new minister was appointed - Lord Melbourne. He, appeared, not knowing about the most great scientist of the country.
Checking lists of recently appointed pensioners, he with surprise has stopped on a name of "some Faraday" and has wished to look at him personally. Faraday was invited in the ministry. Faraday, without suspecting anything, arrived to the minister and had to listen from him to the whole treatise about a strangeness of an awarding with pensions of scientists and writers as if they can render indeed the same invaluable services to the fatherland as gallant generals or secretaries and registrars of public institutions. Faraday, of course, has immediately refused the pension granted to him. Viscount Melbourne has been very surprised that "some chemist" also has self-respect. Lord Melbourne has felt deep respect for Faraday. He has written to Faraday the letter in which he apologized for the words and asked him not to give up his pension; but Faraday remained is unshakable in the decision independently "to earn the piece of bread"" ([Abramov Ya. V. "Michael Faraday. His life and scientific activity"]).
We will note that in other biographic works this episode is stated a little on other. (The Prime Ministers were to M. Faraday as that not an indifferent).
"In 1835 he was granted the lifelong pension in 300 pounds annually" ([Faraday. Electromagnetic induction. Page 121]).
For an approximate "translation" of "those" 300 pounds in a modern notions we may use the Thomas Edison's phrase: "... approximately annual salary of the chairman of the railway company ..." ([Michael Lapirov-Skoblo 'Edison']).
The question of individual self-development of Faraday is presented in the book by M.I. Radovsky insufficiently. In any case, there is no distinct mention of the Faraday's lessons with the using of the book of Isaac Watts. "Ribot in the letter of 1813 so tells about the Faraday's thirst to studying of a new according to books: "Still he often read the work by doctor Watts "The improvement of the mind", carried it with himself in a pocket ... "" ([Faraday. Electromagnetic induction. Page 25]).
"... It is necessary to emphasize also his commitment in researches to some intellectual installations which have helped him to achieve recognition. The scientist has found of these installations in the book "The improvement of the mind" (1815) by Isaak Watts (1674 - 1748) which he in youth has intertwined in bookstore of Ribot" ([Faraday. Electromagnetic induction. Page 58]).
At the same time, M.I. Radovsky reports also about conducting a regular records by M. Faraday, and about development of oral speech by him (but without reference to I. Watts). In the book by Isaak Watts was told, in particular, about a need of development of these skills.
2.3. A collective self-development and self-education.
The theme of collective self-development in Britain of that time was described by M.I. Radovsky, but insufficiently distinctly.
The culture and practice of the British collective self-education have rendered on M. Faraday's life as it seems to me, the one of the decisive influences. He has entered the powerful and deep river. This river has entailed him to the coast of a vital good luck. The person from "bottoms" who doesn't have formal education became one of leaders of world science.
"Faraday, not possessing neither money, nor social connections, have managed to get the same education, as well as any other student of high origin" ([Faraday. Electromagnetic induction. Page 49]).
A reading biographic works about Michael Faraday gives interesting information not only on him, but also on Britain of that time. For example, there is a feeling that the system of the British collective self-education represented a certain format of a social life: people get acquainted, they communicate, exchange opinions, compete, support each other, create the system of acquaintances, personal communications.
"Writers and scientists, practicians and theorists, blue stockings and fashionably the dressed ladies, old men and youth - all these an agitated people overflowed the lecture hall" - M. Faraday has made record about the first visit of a lecture in the Royal Institution on February 29, 1812.
"The blue stockings and fashionably the dressed ladies", "Old men and youth"!
"Agitated people"!!
"Overflowed the lecture hall"!!!
M. Faraday at this first lecture has made a number of records and sketches on 96 pages. ([Faraday. Electromagnetic induction. Page 30]).
It is possible to come to the remote analogy to the Russian movement of the Narodniks. Only not the Narodniks have moved to a country environment for an education efforts.
But the vast masses of the British population, including descendants of peasants, artisans, workers went to various scientific organizations and public scientific lectures to improve the educational and social levels.
(For "the picture depth" we will note: how many physical and spiritual a forces the young Alexey Peshkov has spent, tensely trying to find near himself such - or similar - scientific organizations, generally available lectures, such a people - interested in knowledge and self-development! As tenaciously the young Alexey Peshkov sought to keep near such points, such the fragmentary Smart Centers, centers of an intellectuality! For example, in Alexey Peshkov there was strong an aspiration to personally see Leo Tolstoy).
Perhaps, and a certain young man from a provincial English settlement would experience approximately the same difficulties, as the young Maxim Gorky? As Gorky, who was feeling "the environment pressure"? It is difficult to tell ...
May be the picture of such a "lunar society" with the set of the scientific organizations, public lectures, with the developed collective self-education is the embellished, idealized image of reality?
May be Michael Faraday is a kind of happy loner? He has appeared at the right time in the right place?
"... The technical revolution, grandiose on the socially economic consequences, first of all takes place in England - the advanced country of that time. Here arise and such inventions as mechanical spinning, the mechanical weaving loom, the steam-engine, the major improvements in the field of metallurgy and metal working. The English inventors Trevithick and Stephenson have declared an era of the railroads.
In England a very favorable conditions for the usage of foreign inventions are arising . For example, such large achievements in the field of chemical industry as whitening of fabrics with a chlorine, the artificial receiving of soda, were invented in France. This inventions for the first time found their practical application - in industrial scale - in England.
(...) To such fields of physics and chemistry as the doctrine about a warmth, about a forces, about a substance transformation, the task is set not only to explain and realize processes with which a technical practice deals, but also to find ways of further progress. The science enriched by data of practice imperiously takes root into production. (...) In the advanced countries, and first of all in England, there are educational and scientific institutions where shots of the technical intellectuals prepare and where there is a scientific development of practical questions of production" ([Radovsky M.I. 'Faraday'. Pages 16-17]).
Having read this quote, it is possible to tell from shares of a joke: "Probably, all the Britain has appeared at the right time in the right place". And with the Britain - M. Faraday.
We may to note: the moral and material support of rather poor working family, relatives to the efforts of Michael Faraday to become on the way of the educated person, researcher, scientist distinctly presented in the book by M.I. Radovsky.
We will sum up the intermediate results of the presented information.
On the one hand, M.I. Radovsky stated not really distinctly a questions of the Faraday's self-improvement, self-development, self-education, and of a collective development, of the M. Faraday's religiousness, his positive relationship with the British society and the state.
On the other hand, many aspects of life of Faraday are presented in the book by M.I. Radovsky if not in the context of a "fight" (it would be too strongly told and would become obvious exaggeration), then, in any case, a certain conflict interaction.
2.4. "A fight" ("a struggle") as literary reception.
What this hypothetical "a conflict interaction"? What literary effect gives of his usage in the book?
With some share of art exaggeration it is possible so to reformulate the biographic elements read in the book by M.I. Radovsky characterizing a course of life of M. Faraday.
(a) M. Faraday fights for knowledge acquisition.
(b) M. Faraday, who received a speciality bookbinder, and come as an apprentice in the shop of the owner of the Frenchman, fights for living conditions worthy of a human.
(c) M. Faraday fights for his enrollment to the Royal Institute.
(d) M. Faraday fights for human dignity during a travel across Europe with Humphry Davy.
(e) M. Faraday fights for election in Royal society.
(f) M. Faraday fights for a scientific priority.
(g) M. Faraday is in opposition to those high-ranking representatives of the British society, who, without doing research directly, were included in the top management of scientific organizations.
Of course, in my interpretation there is a share of an art's exaggeration. I will emphasize that it is my (artificially exaggerated) interpretation of my impressions of reading the book of M.I. Radovsky.
2.5. "An information shading" plus "a fight" equals "Robin Hood".
But still a slightly subtle a breeze of literary stylization is felt. A spirit of Robin Hood appears (the defender of weak, the fighter against strong).
An emergence of such literary stylization - it is good or bad?
Relatively there isn't a lot of Russian-language works about Michael Faraday. In his biographies not a lot of bright, expressive details. He has been focused in work, in researches.
Among the existing Russian-speaking works - not all are in a common and easy access.
Lets present that a rather small number of biographic works about Michael Faraday are the works, though "comprehensive", biographic exact, but not attracting an interest of a wide range of readers. And these works attract attention only a narrow circle of interested persons - those who wish to learn special details from M. Faraday's life. Such hypothetical situation will hardly deserve a positive assessment.
Probably, as a more preferable it is possible to consider an other option. option, At which - though with some a shifts of a biographic accents - but all the people with secondary education will know about Michael Faraday.
From this point of view book by M.I. Radovsky as
(1) in common, complete biographical work, and
(2) as certainly valuable material of a common pre-educational or educational levels aimed at wide dissemination of knowledge
deserves the unambiguously positive assessment.
Eventually, if to choose between the book which doesn't creates effect of induction of reader's interest and that book which excites reader's interest, then it is necessary to give preference of that book which is reading easily and willingly by a wide range of readers.
Robin Hood is a noteworthy and memorable literary hero.
He is bright, his personality easily draws attention. He is understandable for people of different specialties and different age.
An accurate shooting from onions and an understandable legendary care for "simple" people draw both attention, and sympathies.
And here in these the numerous test tubes, reactants, magnets, wires, tens, hundreds, thousands of experiences, infinite working records - in all them it is necessary not only not to get confused. But also it is necessary to understand in all them. Here the arrow of the device has deviated ... And what? Yes the great research is required here. Or - some a thinking process.
Other question - an bow's arrow of accurate Robin Hood has deviated under the influence of a wind. A such an event can change the subject line, lead to new adventures. Everything is clear, is an evident and is an entertaining.
So ... an arrow of the device of Michael Faraday have deviated... And development of a human civilization has changed ... The electrification of the world became a reality ...
3. A quiet courage and a silent heroism.
3.1. The concentrated researcher's the heroism.
The Michael Faraday's heroism, as well as heroism of many other outstanding scientists (in general, persons of a civilization) - heroism other (not evident) type.
The M. Faraday's heroism which is shown in enormous expenses of energy and health during research process in what that reminds research heroism of the Heinrich Schliemann working at Hill Gissarlyk during a forty-degree heat in the presence of own disease. But H. Schliemann worked nevertheless publicly (anyway, the river, the sea were near, and over the head - the Mediterranean sun). And Michael Faraday acted in laboratory.
And if from an easy stylization of Robin Hood to return to Michael Faraday as he was in real life? The laboratory and multi-day, difficult and heavy (in too time, fascinating) research work?
3.2. "A laboratory" - is a developing notion.
Considerable part - it is possible, not less than a half - of Michael Faraday's life passed in his laboratories.