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Is God a Mathematician? Paperback – January 19, 2010
| Mario Livio (Author) Find all the books, read about the author, and more. See search results for this author |
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Nobel Laureate Eugene Wigner once wondered about “the unreasonable effectiveness of mathematics” in the formulation of the laws of nature. Is God a Mathematician? investigates why mathematics is as powerful as it is. From ancient times to the present, scientists and philosophers have marveled at how such a seemingly abstract discipline could so perfectly explain the natural world. More than that—mathematics has often made predictions, for example, about subatomic particles or cosmic phenomena that were unknown at the time, but later were proven to be true. Is mathematics ultimately invented or discovered? If, as Einstein insisted, mathematics is “a product of human thought that is independent of experience,” how can it so accurately describe and even predict the world around us?
Physicist and author Mario Livio brilliantly explores mathematical ideas from Pythagoras to the present day as he shows us how intriguing questions and ingenious answers have led to ever deeper insights into our world. This fascinating book will interest anyone curious about the human mind, the scientific world, and the relationship between them.
- Print length308 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- Publication dateJanuary 19, 2010
- Dimensions5.5 x 0.8 x 8.44 inches
- ISBN-100743294068
- ISBN-13978-0743294065
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"This highly readable book explores one of the most fascinating questions that lies at the heart of fundamental physics -- why is mathematics so effective in describing nature and is mathematics an invention of the human mind or part of the fabric of physical reality? Livio provides a wonderful review of the various issues, presents a wide variety of opinions, and in addition some fascinating insights of his own. I strongly recommend this volume to anyone interested in these questions." -- David Gross, 2004 Nobel Prize Winner in Physics, Frederick W. Gluck Professor of Theoretical Physics and Director, Kavli Institute For Theoretical Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara
"All science proceeds from the assumption that the cosmos is ordered in an intelligible way. Beneath the bewildering richness of natural phenomena there lies an elegant mathematical unity. How astonishing that the human mind is attuned to this hidden subtext of nature! With elegance and clarity, Mario Livio charts how, through science and mathematics, we have come to glimpse the fundamental rules on which the universe runs." -- Paul Davies, author of The Goldilocks Enigma and Director of the Beyond Center for Fundamental Concepts in Science, Arizona State University
"An exhilarating foray into the founding premises of mathematical science." -- Booklist
"Theologians have God, philosophers existence, and scientists mathematics. Mario Livio makes the case for how these three ideas might be related...Livio's rich history gives the discussions human force and verve." -- Sam Kean, New Scientist
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Product details
- Publisher : Simon & Schuster; First Edition Thus (January 19, 2010)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 308 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0743294068
- ISBN-13 : 978-0743294065
- Item Weight : 9 ounces
- Dimensions : 5.5 x 0.8 x 8.44 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #71,277 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #48 in Epistemology Philosophy
- #66 in Mathematics History
- #416 in History & Philosophy of Science (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
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Detailed discussion: This book comprises an intriguing metaphysical debate of math, but noting more. (For the record, metaphysics is (from the internet) “the branch of philosophy that deals with the first principles of things, including abstract concepts such as being, knowing, substance, cause, identity, time, and space.”) That definition pretty much sums up this book – i.e., the book is essentially a summary of the philosophical debate regarding the origins of math. So, notwithstanding the title, there is minimal theological debate in this book – the closest it comes to that end is some quotations (at pgs. 76-77) from Galileo to the effect that math is the language of the universe, and of God. Otherwise, it is basically a summary of the metaphysical debate over the last 2500 years, with no resolution of the debate (to date). Perhaps the author should have prefaced his book with his closing paragraph, which is a quote from Bertrand Russell to the effect that, while the issue may never be resolved by debate, the benefit of the debate is in “enlarge[ing] our conception of what is possible; enrich[ing] our intellectual imagination and diminish[ing] the dogmatic assurance which closes the mind against speculation; but above all because, through the greatness of the universe which philosophy contemplates, the mind is also rendered great, and becomes capable of that union with the universe which constitutes its highest good.” This quote can be interpreted in different ways (e.g., the mind of man is great due to its own existence, or the mind of man is great due to a higher existence). However, the bottom line is the proposal that the real benefit of the “math” debate is in expanding human thought.
From my own personal experience, this book did nothing to expand my mind, other than providing me with information regarding a debate of which I was not previously aware. At best I am left with some information that I can use in future cocktail party conversations (assuming the right audience). If you are interested in abstract (and so-called "mind-expanding") debates, then this book is for you. If not, then don't waste your time with this book. There is very little "math" in it, and even less theology.
Plus, Livio doesn't seem to discriminate between the notation, which is obviously a human invention, and the underlying reality, which would be true if no human had ever lived. (e.g. The value of Pi remains the same whatever base it is expressed in.
So, I gave it four stars. It is a nice, but unchallenging read.
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Beide Fälle stellen uns für Rätsel: im erste Fall ist es die verblüffende Passung der Mathematik auf die Welt und die trotzdem nicht auszuschließende Möglichkeit, dass die Wirklichkeit, was immer sie ist, doch anders ist als wir uns (mittels unserer mathematischen Modelle) vorstellen.
Im zweiten Falle ist es die verblüffende Eigenschaft der Natur, dass sie Organismen hervorgebracht hat, die in der Lage sind, sich über eben diese Natur Gedanken zu machen und sogar immer erfolgreichere Erklärungen, Modellen und Theorien aufzustellen.
In beiden Fällen bleibt nichtzuletzt die Verwunderung darüber, dass überhaupt so viel Ordnung und Struktur vorhanden ist - egal ob sie jetzt von uns oder von der Natur kommt -, wo doch ziemlich unumstrittene physikalische Theorien behaupten, dass die Natur sich eher in Richtung Unordnung (Entropie) entwickelt.
Mario Livio nimmt uns mit auf einer eindrucksvollen Reise entlang vielen Stationen der mathematischen Geschichte, wobei es immer wieder um diese Frage, und die mehr oder weniger expliziten Antworte der berühmtesten Mathematiker, geht.
Insbesondere faszinieren ihm die Fälle, wo Mathematiker 'offensichtlich' ohne Bezug auf irgendwelche physikalische Phänomene abstrakte Theorien entwickelt haben, die dann urplötzlich und im nachhinein doch ganz konkrete Anwendungen gefunden haben (Beispiele: Coding Theory, Knot Theory). Was sagr uns das über das Dilemma: Erfindung oder Entdeckung?
Am Schluss bleibt Mario Livio eher vorsichtig in seinem Fazit: die Erfolgsgeschichten der mathematischen Erklärung der Natur (inklusive der Spezies Homo Sapiens) sollten uns nicht blind dafür machen, dass wir eben vieles (noch) nicht erklärt haben und inzwischen auch ziemlich überzeugend nachweisen können, dass einiges niemals erklärt (im Sinne von: vorhergesagt) werden kann (als Beispiel nennt Livio, wie könnte es anders sei, die Chaostheorie).
It would be a great book if the vast history in cut down to brief history spreading not more than 20 pages and the remaining pages purely dealing with Nature's amazing secrets


