Cultural Literacy Leads to Michael Faraday!

Back in 1987, E.D. Hirsch, Jr. wrote a book wtitled Cultural Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know. The premise of the book there are core things that all Americans should have knowledge of to be culturally literate.

American education academic E. D. Hirsch delivers his speech at the second annual Policy Exchange Education Lecture

Now I’m sure many things that could be added to the book if the book were updated today. But there are still a lot that we should all know about.

I found my copy of the book today. I’ve thought before about using the items listed in the alAppendix of the book as a basis for posts. So here’s what I’d like to do. once a week or so I’ll pick a random letter. Then I’ll look through the list of things beginning with that letter. I’ll pick something I’d like to explore or think we need to know more about and write a post about it.

Cultural Literacy the Letter F

Today’s letter is F. On my first review of the list, the first thing, actually the first person who caught my attention was Michael Faraday. I certainly remember Faraday was a scientist. However, beyond that I’m not sure of much more.

Here’s what I found about Faraday at Wikipedia.

A Portrait of Michael Farady

Michael Faraday

Michael Faraday (22 September 1791 – 25 August 1867) was an English scientist who contributed to the study of electromagnetism and electrochemistry. His main discoveries include the principles underlying electromagnetic induction, diamagnetism and electrolysis.

Although Faraday received little formal education, he was one of the most influential scientists in history.^[1] It was by his research on the magnetic field around a conductor carrying a direct currentthat Faraday established the basis for the concept of the electromagnetic field in physics. Faraday also established that magnetism could affect rays of light and that there was an underlying relationship between the two phenomena.^[2]^[3] He similarly discovered the principles of electromagnetic induction and diamagnetism, and the laws of electrolysis. His inventions of electromagnetic rotary devices formed the foundation of electric motor technology, and it was largely due to his efforts that electricity became practical for use in technology.

I am always amazed about the discoveries that scientists made in the late 1700s and early 1900s. It’s obvious Faraday laid the groundwork for the electricity revolution of the late 1800s.

I also learned that Einstein kept a picture of Faraday on his study wall. It hung beside pictures of Isaac Newton and James Clerk Maxwell.

While Physicist Ernest Rutherford had this to say about Faraday

”When we consider the magnitude and extent of his discoveries and their influence on the progress of science and of industry, there is no honour too great to pay to the memory of Faraday, one of the greatest scientific discoverers of all time.“^[1]

Two other items, which caught my eye, will be the subject of a post later in the week. They are fascism and federalism! Both apropos for our time!