The Power of Thought Experiments

by Daniel Breyer

Thought experiments are “what if” scenarios that invite us to look carefully at how we think and view the world. They’ve been used throughout history by philosophers and other thinkers to explore our intuitions and ways of reasoning, to find solutions to problems, and to expand our knowledge of ourselves and the world.

Genres: Philosophy, Science

12 pages, Audible Audio

First published January 1, 2023

Reviews

[Carlex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thought experiments have helped us since ancient Greece to glimpse phenomena and concepts that formal knowledge cannot fully grasp. This book demonstrates how they have been, and continue to be, important in fields as diverse as ethics and quantum physics.

Perhaps the explanations are overly detailed, but overall, it is a very illustrative book about the potential for reflection—and also the limitations—of thought experiments.