Black Mischief: Language, Life, Logic, Luck-Second Edition [Paperback]

David Berlinski (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0156130637 | ISBN-13: 978-0156130639 | Publication Date: October 31, 1988 | Edition: 2

A protean look at the science establishment-as well as the personalities behind the scenes-in such fields as behavioral psychology, linguistics, and economics.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Berlinski (author of the notable On Systems Analysis has saturated himself in advanced mathematics, analytical philosophy and, to some degree, modern linguistics. Here he swarms over the reader from each of these directions, describing in amusing-to-ribald fashion his experiences in labs and at seminars with famed scientists in San Francisco, Paris, Vienna, Trieste and elsewhere. His theme: that contemporary science, with its almost-daily discoveries and apparent marvels, seems firmly oriented toward the future, but underlying its key assumptions is a "system of belief" still tied to 19th century mechanistic determinism despite the innovations of Einstein, quantum mechanics, Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle and molecular biology. Berlinski's intellectual roller-coaster comes at last to the notion of randomness, and in brilliant but dizzying final chapters that discuss DNA, catastrophe theory, metric space and "life as a language-like system," he seems to arrive at a nonmystical vitalism that may well bring his peers to their feetcheering or protesting.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

Berlinski (author of the notable On Systems Analysis has saturated himself in advanced mathematics, analytical philosophy and, to some degree, modern linguistics. Here he swarms over the reader from each of these directions, describing in amusing-to-ribald fashion his experiences in labs and at seminars with famed scientists in San Francisco, Paris, Vienna, Trieste and elsewhere. His theme: that contemporary science, with its almost-daily discoveries and apparent marvels, seems firmly oriented toward the future, but underlying its key assumptions is a "system of belief" still tied to 19th century mechanistic determinism despite the innovations of Einstein, quantum mechanics, Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle and molecular biology. Berlinski's intellectual roller-coaster comes at last to the notion of randomness, and in brilliant but dizzying final chapters that discuss DNA, catastrophe theory, metric space and "life as a language-like system," he seems to arrive at a nonmystical vitalism that may well bring his peers to their feetcheering or protesting.
(Publishers Weekly )

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Product Details

• Paperback: 363 pages
• Publisher: Mariner Books; 2 edition (October 31, 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0156130637
• ISBN-13: 978-0156130639
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #989,188 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars One of Berlinski's Best, October 18, 2008

By 

Edwin E. Klingman "Gene Man" (San Gregorio, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Black Mischief: Language, Life, Logic, Luck-Second Edition (Paperback)

David Berlinski combines knowledge of mathematics, physics, and philosophy, with an irreverent attitude and unique writing style. In this book he combines many personal anecdotes with an analysis and overview of (per the title) language, life, logic, and luck.

Berlinksi is disliked by many, partially because he pokes fun at them and partly because he is correct. For example, he remarks that "the sole example of reductionism successfully achieved involves the derivation of thermodynamics from statistical mechanics." and, "Like other men, molecular biologists evidently derive some satisfaction from imagining that the orthodoxy they espouse is ceaselessly under attack."

Of his many books, I find this one, "Black Mischief" and "The Devil's Delusion" to be by far his best. If you are free of orthodoxy, you'll probably enjoy it, otherwise you may not wish to venture here. One need not agree with every aspect of Berlinski's reasoning to find it entertaining. But, as you may gather from other reviews, if it's your ox being gored, you probably won't enjoy it. In particular, if you worship academia, steer clear.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars to offset, January 18, 2011

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Marianne Bacon (Middletown, CT) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Black Mischief: Language, Life, Logic, Luck-Second Edition (Paperback)

David Berlinski is one of my favorite writers, and my 5 stars are to offset the dreary lack of appreciation in the above review. I read this a long time ago, and plan to read it again now.

3.0 out of 5 stars The math master, March 29, 2011

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S. Leach "Lady Cop and Vegas Librarian" (Blackwell, OK) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Black Mischief: Language, Life, Logic, Luck-Second Edition (Paperback)

Berlinski once again proves his genius in capturing game theory in an easy to read format and expanding the reader's spectrum. Comparable to the works of Richard Feynman.