Synopses & Reviews
'There are major unsolved problems that strike at the very fundamentals of our understanding of the laws of physics, asserts Penrose. Whether you support this conjecture or oppose it, you need to join the debate found in The Large, the Small and the Human Mind. This volume offers the ideal introduction to a provocative, new type of physics. In his earlier books,The Emperor\'s New Mind and Shadows of the Mind, Penrose expounds some original ideas about the large-scale physics of the Universe, the small-scale world of quantum physics and the physics of the mind. In this book, he presents a masterful summary of the complex ideas presented in these works. He also highlights those areas of physics in which he feels there are major unsolved problems. He goes on to propose that we can solve these flawed theories with a new type of physics, which, he says is also relevant in understanding the workings of the brain and the scientific discussion of the nature of the human mind. A lively debate follows where three well-known experts, Abner Shimony, Nancy Cartwright, and Stephen Hawking, present their own distinctive views of Penrose\'s position. Professor Penrose gets the last word in response to his critics. The paperback edition has been updated to include a highly accessible example of Gödel\'s theorem and a ground-breaking proposal for a physical experiment designed to test some of Penrose\'s most novel ideas about quantum mechanics. The Large, the Small and the Human Mind is a gentle and at times amusing introduction to some of the most exciting concepts in modern physics and lets readers take part in a thrilling scientific debate, one that may very well decide how physics will develop in the twenty-first century.'
Review
'\"[This book] is a wonderful illustration of a first-rate scientist doing what first-rate scientists have always done: make bold conjectures and display them for others to confirm, refute or amend.\" New Scientist\"It is a wonderful illustration of a first-rate scientist doing what first-rate scientists have always done: make bold conjectures and display them for others to confirm, refute or amend.\" Keith Devlin, New Scientist\"Overall, this is an excellent little book. It is intelligent, well written in a nontechnical jargon, and it raises what are the key issues in the science of matter. It is a wonderful stimulant for the examination of old assumptions and the search for new thoughts. Highly recommended.\" Review of Metaphysics\"The Large, the Small, and the Human Mind makes for engaging reading.\" The Bloomsbury Review\"Overall, this is an excellent little book. It is intelligent, well written in nontechnical jargon, and it raises what are the key issues in the science of matter. It is a wonderful stimulant for the examination of old assumptions and the search for new thoughts. Highly recommended.\" Review of Metaphysics'
Synopsis
Roger Penrose's book presents a masterful summary of those areas of physics in which he feels there are major unsolved problems. These ideas are then challenged by three distinguished experts from different backgrounds - Abner Shimony, Nancy Cartwright and Stephen Hawking. Finally, Penrose responds to their thought-provoking criticisms. This paperback edition has been updated to include previously unpublished material with two ground-breaking developments in the debate. Penrose's enthusiasm, insight and good humour shine through this accessible, illuminating, and brilliant account of 21st-century theoretical physics.
Synopsis
The latest book from one of the most original and provocative minds in science, updated with two ground-breaking developments in the debate.
Synopsis
The latest book from one of the most original and provocative minds in science, updated with two ground-breaking developments in the debate.
Synopsis
In this book, Roger Penrose presents a masterly summary of those areas of physics in which he feels there are major unsolved problems. These ideas are then challenged by three distinguished experts from different backgrounds - Abner Shimony and Nancy Cartwright as Philosophers of science and Stephen Hawking as a theoretical physicist and cosmologist. Finally, Roger Penrose responds to their thought-provoking criticisms. This paperback edition has been updated to include a striking and easily accessible example of Gödel's theorem, and a ground-breaking proposal for a physical experiment designed to test some of Penrose's most novel ideas about quantum mechanics. Penrose's enthusiasm, insight and good humour shine through this accessible, illuminating, and brilliant account of 21st-century theoretical physics.
Description
Includes bibliographical references.
Table of Contents
'Preface Malcolm Longair; 1. Space-time and cosmology Roger Penrose; 2. The mysteries of quantum physics Roger Penrose; 3. Physics and the mind Roger Penrose; 4. On mentality, quantum mechanics and the actualization of potentialities Abner Shimony; 5. Why physics? Nancy Cartwright; 6. The objections of an unashamed reductionist Stephen Hawking; 7. Reply Roger Penrose; Appendix I: a new example of Gödel\'s theorem; Appendix II: proposal for a physical experiment to test quantum state reduction.\n
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Tech Q&A
Read the Tech Q&A with Roger Penrose