Per Bill Mahr's comment on Benjamin Franklin (for Asimov Fans)

[Motown_Johnny]

The context here is Bill Mahr's show last night and his comment that Benjamin Franklin studied lightning.

Well he did much more than that which Teabaggers would hate, and I learned about it from something written by Issac Asimov in 1969.



The title of the essay is "The Fateful Lightning" and it describes the lightning rod's impact on rational thinking. It is included in the collections "The Stars In Their Courses"(1971) and "The Edge Of Tomorrow"(1985).


What this essay describes is the lightning rod being rejected by Theologians because it claimed to control something they thought was controlled by God. It describes the various steps taken for the lightning rod to begin to be accepted by society until finally the only choice was to either put them on top of churches or allow these building to continue to be the only ones struck by lightning (which made it appear that God didn't like them).



It is a short, fun and very easy read if you can find a copy or have an old paperback on a shelf somewhere (as I do).

[Jackpine Radical]

1. Jeez, I remember that piece.

[CherokeeDem]

2. Thanks for reminding me...

Asimov is among my favorites and I had forgotten about that essay. What a brilliant mind he had!!!

Runs off to bookcase, searching for book....

[Motown_Johnny]

4. Forgotten it?

It had a lasting impact on my thought processes. I don't think I will ever forget that essay and if I do it is time for me to say my goodbyes.

[ben_thayer]

3. Yeah, Isaac was one of the

GOOD ones. Absolutely brilliant, and yet he could be HYSTERICALLY funny!