The Magic of Numbers [Paperback]

Eric Temple Bell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 19, 2011

From one of the foremost interpreters for lay readers of the history and meaning of mathematics: a stimulating account of the origins of mathematical thought and the development of numerical theory. It probes the work of Pythagoras, Galileo, Berkeley, Einstein, and others, exploring how "number magic" has influenced religion, philosophy, science, and mathematics

Product Details

• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Dover Publications (July 19, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0486267881
• ISBN-13: 978-0486267883
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #579,124 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars About mathematics and philosophical thinking, June 4, 2010

By 

Haran "Haran, Author of "75 Lives of Hara... (South Africa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Magic of Numbers (Paperback)

This book is a fascinating journey into the history of science and the world of mathematics and numbers and their connection with philosophical thinking. The fundamental argument is whether the nature of existence can be explained by deductive reasoning, as Pythagoras and Plato believed, or via experimentation, and also whether mathematics is an invention or a discovery.

The review begins with Pythagoras and Plato who recognized mathematics as an expression of the divine principles of creation and order. Subsequently this view became corrupted through the dogmatization of Christianity. Then a major shift occurred through Newton's work to understand nature via experimentation, and mathematics was relegated to backing it up. This change is seen as the cause of the industrial revolution. The next major turn about happened as a consequence of quantum physics which necessitated mathematics to dominate again not only because mathematics can explain complex issues in a comparatively simple and concise manner but also because experimental verification has become extremely difficult if not impossible. However, although mathematics has assumed the key role again, the author points out that it is now devoid of spiritual meaning.

The intriguing aspect is though that many aspects of the sub-atomic world were predicted by spiritual sources, and multidimensionality and multiple universes were in the spiritual vocabulary long before science stumbled upon their existence. Unfortunately, the author gives no credence to this. On the contrary he is often sarcastic and at best displays an amused tolerance as exemplified in his belief that 'everything is number' is possibly the most mischievous misreading of nature in the history of human errors. He also believes that Pythagoras' and Plato's ideas were directly responsible for retarding the start of modern science.

Nevertheless, the author presented a brilliant analysis of core problems of existence, and although it is one sided in some ways, we can easily fill in the gaps ourselves and allow spiritual and scientific thinking to support each other (this may horrify the author though).

Haran, author of '75 Lives of Haran - New Insights into Reincarnation'