Year: 1974
Type: dissertation
Abstract: perhaps, it was necessary to overstate his case, to push it forward so that the plan might gain a public trial, to overemphasize the plan's workability.In the process of selling the plan, it became obvious that the enthusiasm of the optimist was overshadowing the prudence of the professional.Another barrier to overcome for his rainmaking proposal was the popular and traditional nature of the Espian method.Rainmaking by fire was supported by popular tradition long before Espy proposed it as a scientific experiment.Rains, after all, followed the great London fire and later, they followed numerous American celebrations in which bonfires blazed brightly.Indians had associated grass fires with rain.Rainmaking by fire was not a new idea to the nineteenth century American.Still the idea had never been as popular as it was during and after Espy's advocacy of it.To a large degree its plebeian nature was the result of Espy's work.Its popularity did not shape the Espian rainmaking method as much as the method was further popularized by Espy's efforts.He added the weight of science to the venerability of folklore.9 Ibid., pp.
Author: Jeffrey P. Townsend
Language: English
Subfield: History and Philosophy of Science
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2787987149