I strongly disagree with this. One learns an awful lot by studying
false tracks in the development of ideas, especially if one is
prepared to seek understanding of why the "wrong" ideas gained
acceptance. Stephen Jay Gould's essays are good evidence of this.
The presentation of science (and mathematics) as a linear expansion
of knowledge is not only seriously misleading: it's also less
interesting!
Tony
Tony Mann
School of Computing and Mathematical Sciences
The University of Greenwich
Wellington Street
London
SE18 6PF
UK
Tel: + (44) (0)181 331 8709
Fax: + (44) (0)181 331 8665
Email: A.Mann@gre.ac.uk
http://www.gre.ac.uk/~A.Mann