Synopses & Reviews
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.
Review
'To see a scientist of Penrose's ability, stature and achievement toss large parts of modern physics into the air as though juggling balls and try to keep them aloft while marshalling them into a coherent pattern is a thing to behold. 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
Review
'When Oxford physicist and mathematician Penrose ... has something to say about general relativity, quantum physics and artificial intelligence, we would do well to listen.' Publishers Weekly
Review
'The book is an attractive and stimulating introduction to some fascinating issues, on some of which (such as the intelligibility of the universe) theists would certainly be able to offer some alternative insights.' John Polkinghorne, Science and Christian Belief
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'... one could hardly ask for a shrewder or more enthusiastic tour guide to the extremes of physics.' Scientific American
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'... a stimulating and compact review of Penrose's own thinking.' Bernard Dixon, The Independent
Synopsis
Accessible and stimulating introduction to Roger Penrose's vision of theoretical physics for the twenty-first century.
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
An accessible, illuminating and stimulating introduction to Roger Penrose's vision of theoretical physics for the twenty-first century. Includes incisive contributions from Abner Shimony, Nancy Cartwright and Stephen Hawking. This is a fascinating account of the problems of modern physics, ranging from small-scale quantum physics to the physics of the Universe.
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
Roger Penrose's views on the large-scale physics of the Universe, the small-scale world of quantum physics and the physics of the mind are controversial and widely discussed. This book is a fascinating and accessible summary of Roger Penrose's current thinking on those areas of physics in which he feels there are major unresolved problems. It is also a stimulating introduction to the radically new concepts that he believes will be fruitful in understanding the workings of the brain and the nature of the human mind.
Table of Contents
Foreword 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. Response Roger Penrose; Appendix I: Goodstein's theorm and mathematical thinking; Appendix II: Experiments to test gravitationally induced state reduction.
Tech Q&A
Read the Tech Q&A with Roger Penrose