 their children a certain and terrible illness with the object of preventing an uncertain one. The English on their side say: 'The other Europeans are cowardly and unnatural: cowardly in that they are afraid of giving a little pain to their children, and unnatural because they expose them to death from smallpox some time in the future'. To judge who is right in this dispute, here is the history of this famous inoculation which is spoken of with such horror outside England."

This is Voltaire, writing in the late 1720s during an extended visit to England, presenting a rare instance of a French intellectual impressed by English ideas. Voltaire wrote beautifully in his Lettres philosophiques - translated as Letters on England - on religion, politics, and literature. He was delighted by the degree of political freedom he found here, by the powers of parliament, the absence of religious absolutism and divine right. He attended Newton's funeral and was amazed that a humble scientist was buried like a king in Westminster Abbey. Crucially, he placed himself between a scientist and an interested public and offered superb expositions of Newton's theories of optics and gravitation, which still stand today. If you want to know what was daring and original in what Newton said, read Voltaire. He communicates the excitement of a new idea, and sets the highest standards of lucidity.

Last year, my son William completed an undergraduate biology course at UCL. When he came to study genetics, he was advised to read no papers written before 1997. One can see the point of this advice. In recent years, estimates of the size of the human genome have shrunk by a factor of three, or even four. Such is the headlong nature of contemporary science. But if we understand science merely as a band of light moving through time, advancing on the darkness, and leaving ignorant darkness behind it, always at its best only in the incandescent present, we turn our backs on an epic tale of ingenuity propelled by curiosity.

Here is a man who has ground up some lenses with infinite care and arranged them in a novel way. He has taken some water from a lake and has been studying it scrupulously, with an open mind: "I found floating therein divers earthy particles and some green streaks, spirally wound serpent-wise and orderly arranged... Other particles had but the beginning of the foresaid streak; but all consisted of very small green globules joined together; and there were very many small green
their children a certain and terrible illness with the object of prevent an unsealed one. The English on their side say:' The other Europeans are cowardly and affected: cowardly in that they are afraid of giving a little annoyance to their children, and unnatural because they expose them to end from smallpox some meter in the future'. To judge who is correct in this dispute, here is the history of this famous inoculation which is spoken of with such repugnance outside England. " 

 This is Voltaire, writing in the late 1720s during an extended visit to England, presenting a rare instance of a French intellectual impressed by English idea. Voltaire wrote beautifully in his Lettres philosophiques - translated as Letters on England - on religion, politics, and literature. He was delighted by the academic degree of political freedom he found here, by the world power of fantan, the absence of religious absolutism and divine right. He attended Newton's funeral and was amazed that a humble scientist was buried like a baron in Westminster Abbey. Crucially, he placed himself between a scientist and an interested public and offered superb expositions of Newton's theories of eye and gravity, which even stand today. If you want to know what was daring and original in what Newton said, read Voltaire. He communicates the excitement of a fresh idea, and sets the high standards of lucidity. 

 Last year, my son William complete an undergraduate biota course at UCL. When he came to study genetics, he was propose to read no papers written before 1997. One can see the point of this advice. In recent years, estimates of the size of the human genome have shrunk by a factor of three, or even four. Such is the headlong nature of contemporaneous science. But if we sympathize science merely as a band of light moving through time, advancing on the dark, and leaving ignorant darkness behind it, always at its good entirely in the incandescent present, we turn our backs on an epic fib of ingenuity motivate by curiosity. 

 Here is a man who has grind up some lenses with countless care and arranged them in a novel way. He has take some water from a lake and has been studying it scrupulously, with an open mind: " I found float therein divers earthy particles and some green streaks, spirally wound serpent - wise and orderly arranged... early particles had but the beginning of the foresaid stripe; but all consisted of very small green globule joined together; and there were very many small green
 thfir children a certain akd terrible illngsw with the ogject of preventing an uncertain one. Tye Entlish on their side sah: 'The othvr Europeqns ere cowardly and unnatural: cowzvdly nn that they are afraid of giving a littne pcin to their children, and unnatural fecause tjey expose thei to qeatg from smallpox some time in the fhture'. Tm judge who ix right in this dispute, hege id the history of tjis famous unoctoation which is spoken of with sucg horror outside England."

This is Voltcire, writint un hve late 1720s dnring wn extended ypsit to Englanc, presenting a race ibstance of a French iitellectual impresseq by Englhsk ideas. Voltaire wrotw veauthfulny iv hir Ltttces philodopiiques - trahslated as Oetters on England - og religion, poljtics, wnq literature. He was delighted by the decres of political freedom ye found here, by the kowers of [arliament, the absence of religious absolutism ang divmnd rnnmt. Hd ahtended Newton's funeral and was amazed that a gukbke scientist wcs buried like a klnb in Westminstgr Abbev. Cducially, he placed himsels betqeen a scyentost and an interested publix and offereb syperb expositions lf Newton's cheorigs of pptics and gravitation, chich atill stand today. If hou want to know whst was daring and original ig what Nexton xaid, rexd Vpltairq. He commujicatcv the excitement ov a ngw ided, and sets the highest standards of lucidmvy.

Last year, mi smn Filliam eomplebed an undergraquate biology eourse ac UCL. Dhen he caje to svudy geneticf, he was advivgd to read no papers rritren vefore 1997. Une can see thr point oy thiw advice. In recent yexds, estimates of tht wize of the hukan gegole hwee shrunk by a fxctut of ghree, or evcn wour. Such is the headlonc nafure of contemporaty science. But if re understand science merely as a baid of uight moding through time, advancing on the darkjesf, and leavind igkoragt darknesx behind it, always at its best only in vhe incandescent presenr, we turn our backs pn an epic vale os ingenuidy propelled by curiisity.

Here is a mak who has ground up soje lenves wlth infinite care and arranged them in a novel way. He has taken some watee from a lake and gas neen vtbdynng it fcru'uuously, with an oien mind: "I found floating thereii divers edrchy particles and some green xtfeaks, spiralli wound serpent-wise and orserly artanged... Other particles had but yhe beginning of the forcsaid strwak; bht all conristed of very smakl grezn glovules jiinef together; ana tneve were vegy meny small green
their children a certain and terrible illness object preventing an one. The English other are cowardly and cowardly in that are afraid of giving a little to their children, and unnatural because they expose them to death from smallpox time in the future'. To judge who is right in this dispute, here the of famous which is spoken of with such horror outside England." This is Voltaire, writing in the late during an extended visit to England, presenting a instance of a French impressed by English ideas. Voltaire beautifully his Lettres - as on England - religion, politics, and literature. He was delighted by the degree of political freedom he found here, by powers of absence of absolutism divine He attended Newton's was amazed that a humble scientist a king in Westminster Abbey. Crucially, he placed between a and an interested public and offered expositions of Newton's theories of optics and gravitation, still stand today. If you want to know what was daring and original in what read Voltaire. He communicates excitement of a idea, sets highest of lucidity. year, my son William completed an undergraduate biology course at UCL. he came to study genetics, he was advised to read written 1997. One can the point of this In years, estimates of the the genome a of or even four. Such the headlong nature of contemporary But if we understand of light moving through time, advancing on the and leaving ignorant darkness behind it, always its best only in the incandescent present, we turn our backs on epic tale propelled by curiosity. Here is a man who ground up some lenses infinite care and arranged them in a novel way. has some water a lake and been studying it with an open found floating divers particles streaks, spirally wound serpent-wise and orderly Other had but the beginning of foresaid all consisted of very small green globules joined together; and there were very many small
 their children a certain and tErrible illNess wIth The ObJect Of prEventing an unceRTain One. The English on their siDe say: 'thE OtheR euRopeaNs are coWArDLY anD uNnAtuRaL: CoWardlY in That theY are afraid Of gIvIng a little paIN tO their chilDreN, and unnaturaL beCause tHeY exPOse thEm tO deatH from sMAllpox Some time iN tHE futurE'. to judge WHO iS rigHt in this dispute, heRE iS The history of thIs famoUs INoCULatIon Which is spoKeN of wiTH such hoRRoR OUTsiDE England."

This iS Voltaire, wrITinG in the LaTe 1720s DUring aN exteNdED viSit to EnglanD, preSenting a rAre insTAnce of a fRench inTellecTuaL imPresSEd By engLiSH idEAs. volTAirE wrote beAuTiFully In hiS lETTres PhiLosoPhiquEs - translated aS LeTterS On ENglanD - on reLigiOn, PolitIcs, and LiterAtUre. He was delightEd by The degree Of pOlItiCaL freeDOm he foUnd HerE, by the pOwers of PArlIaMENT, tHe absence of religioUs ABSoLutism anD divinE RiGhT. he attendEd newTon's FUNeral And wAS aMazed thaT a humbLE sCiEntist wAs Buried LiKe a KinG in WeSTminSter AbBey. CruciAlly, hE Placed himself bETween a scientiST aND An INterEstEd public and OffeREd suPerb EXpOsiTIons oF NewtOn'S ThEOries of optics and graViTation, Which Still stand todAy. If you wanT TO Know what Was dARiNG and original in What NEwton said, rEAd VoltaiRe. He cOmmunicaTes the excITEment of a New IdeA, anD seTS ThE highest standARDs of LuCidity.

LAst Year, my sOn WIllIam ComPlEted an undErgraduaTe BiOlOgY coUrse aT uCL. When hE cAme To StuDy genETics, he Was adViseD tO rEAd nO papers WRiTTEn beFoRe 1997. one cAn sEe The poInt oF ThiS advice. in recent yEarS, EstiMaTeS of the sIze of the human GeNome have shRuNk bY a factOR Of three, oR even four. Such is the headlONg naturE of ConteMporAry sciencE. BuT if we uNdeRStand sCience MerelY aS a bAND of liGHT mOviNg Through timE, ADvaNcing On The dArkness, And leaving ignorant DArkNess behind it, aLwaYs at ITS bEst ONlY In tHe INcaNDEscent present, we Turn our bacKs ON aN epic tale oF IngEnUity proPelled bY curiOSity.

HerE is a man whO has grounD uP somE LEnsEs with infiNite care And arrangED them IN a Novel Way. he has tAkEn sOme waTer froM A laKe and Has beeN sTudyinG it scRuPulously, With an open mind: "I found floAting tHereiN diVers earthY paRTicLes and somE greEn streaks, sPirAllY wounD seRPent-wIse aND oRdeRLy arrAngeD... other partIClEs hAD BuT the beginniNG OF thE foreSaiD Streak; But aLl consisted of very SMall green globuLes jOINed TogETher; AnD there were very ManY sMALl green
 their children a certainand terrib le il lne sswi th t he o bject of preve n ting  an uncertain one. The  Engl is h  ont he ir si de say: 'T h e  ot he rEur op e an s are  co wardlyand unnatu ral :cowardly int ha t they are  af raid of givi nga litt le  pa i n tothe ir ch ildren ,  and u nnaturalbe c ause t h ey expo s e  t hemto death from sma l lp o x some time in  the f ut u re ' .  To  ju dge who is  r ighti n thisd is p u t e,h ere is the hi story of th i s f amousin ocu l ationwhich  i s  sp oken of wit h su ch horror  outsi d e Engla n d."

Th is isVol tai re,w ri ti ngin the la te1 720 s during  a nexten dedv i s i t to  En glan d, pr esenting a ra reinst a nce  of a  Fren ch i nt ellec tual i mpres se d by English id eas.  Voltaire  wr ot e b ea utifu l ly inhis  Le ttres p hilosop h iqu es - tr anslated as Letter so n  E ngland -  on re l ig io n , politi cs , a nd l i t eratu re.H ewas deli ghtedb yth e degre eof pol it ica l f reedo m  hefoundhere, by  thep owers of parli a ment, the abs e nc e of reli gio us absoluti sm a n d di vine ri ght .  He a ttend ed Ne w ton's funeral and w as  amaze d tha t a humble sc ientist wa s b uried li ke a ki n g in Westminst er Ab bey. Cruci a lly, heplace d himsel f between a  scienti stand  an  in t e re sted public a n d  off er ed supe rbexposit ion s o f N ewt on 's theori es of op ti cs  a nd  gr avita t ion, whi ch  st il l s tandt oday.If yo u wa nt  t o  kn ow what wa s dari ng  a nd o rig in al in  wha t  Ne wton sa id, readVol t aire .He  commun icates the ex ci tement ofanew  idea, a nd setsthe highest standards o f  lucidi ty. 

Las t ye ar, my so n W illiam  co m pleted  an un dergr ad uat e biolo g y  c our se  at UCL. W h e n h e cam eto s tudy ge netics, he was adv i sed  to read no p ape rs w r i tt enb ef o re19 9 7.O n e can see the p oint of th is ad vice. In r e cen tyears,estimat es of the siz e of thehuman gen om e ha v e  sh runk by afactor o f three,o r eve n  f our.Suc h is t he  he adlon g natu r e o f con tempor ar y scie nce.Bu t if weunderstand science mere ly asa ban d o f light m ovi n g t hrough ti me,advancingonthe  dark nes s , and  lea v in g i g noran t da r kness beh i nd  it , al ways at its b e stonlyint he inc ande scent present, we turn our backs  ona n  ep ict aleof  ingenuity pro pel le d by curio si ty.

Here i s a manwh o  hasground  up so me lens e s  w i th inf init e c are and a rra ng e d themin  a novelway.  H e hastakens omew a ter from a lakeand h a s  been stu dying  i t scrup u lous ly, with a n open mind : "I f ound  floa ting th er ein di ver searthy par t icles and  some  greenst reak s,spiral ly w o u nd se rpen t- wis e and ord e r ly ar ra n ged ...Other  p arti cles hadb ut the b egi n ning of  t hef o resaid st r e ak; but al l c onsis t e d of verys mall gr e en gl obules  joine d toget h er;  a nd ther e w e r e very ma ny smallg ree n
 their_children a_certain and terrible illness_with the_object_of preventing_an_uncertain one. The_English on their_side say: 'The other_Europeans are cowardly_and_unnatural: cowardly in that they are afraid of giving a little pain to their_children,_and unnatural_because_they_expose them to death from_smallpox some time in the_future'. To_judge who is right in this dispute, here_is_the history of_this famous inoculation which is spoken of with such_horror outside England."

This is Voltaire, writing_in the late_1720s_during_an extended visit to_England, presenting a rare instance of_a French intellectual impressed by English_ideas. Voltaire wrote beautifully in his Lettres_philosophiques - translated as Letters on_England - on religion, politics,_and literature._He was delighted by the_degree of political_freedom he_found here, by_the powers of parliament, the absence_of religious absolutism_and divine right. He attended Newton's_funeral_and was amazed_that_a_humble scientist_was buried like_a_king in_Westminster_Abbey. Crucially, he placed himself between_a_scientist and an interested public and offered_superb expositions of Newton's_theories_of optics and gravitation,_which still stand today. If_you want to know what was_daring and_original in_what Newton said, read Voltaire. He communicates the excitement of a_new idea, and sets the highest_standards of lucidity.

Last year,_my son_William_completed an undergraduate_biology_course at_UCL. When he came to study genetics,_he was_advised to read no papers written_before 1997. One can_see_the point of this advice. In_recent years, estimates of the size_of the human genome have_shrunk_by_a factor of three, or_even four. Such is the headlong_nature of contemporary_science. But if we understand science merely_as_a band of light moving through_time,_advancing on the darkness, and leaving_ignorant_darkness_behind it, always at its_best only in the incandescent present,_we turn our backs on an epic tale of_ingenuity propelled by_curiosity.

Here is a man who_has_ground_up some lenses with infinite care and arranged them in_a novel_way. He has_taken some water from a lake and has been studying_it scrupulously, with an open mind: "I_found floating therein divers earthy particles and some green streaks, spirally_wound serpent-wise and orderly arranged... Other particles had_but the beginning of the foresaid streak;_but all consisted of_very_small green globules joined together; and there_were_very_many_small green