La quadratura del cerchio... e altri grandi problemi che mostrano i limiti della scienza

by A.K. Dewdney

"In the past two centuries, we have witnessed an unparalleled expansion in scientific and technical horizons. But with our longer view of things, the horizon is now interrupted, here and there, by walls. With our newfound knowledge and technical abilities has come an understanding of the limitations of science and technology. Beyond Reason provides a mind-bending exploration not into what is doable and knowable - but what is undoable and unknowable." "Temporary barriers to understanding are sometimes swept away by knowledge, each advance revealing new vistas. But some barriers appear to be permanent. Author A. K. Dewdney explores these grand limitations that stand like granite walls around our scientific and technological enterprise. These are not the barriers of ignorance, but knowledge. It is perhaps only ignorance that prevents us from traveling through time; certainly no theory yet prohibits the possibility. Yet the presence of chaos in our atmospheric system implies rather strongly that we shall never predict the weather much better than we do now." Beyond Reason explores these barriers and the theories that give them form and substance. We shall apparently never travel faster than the speed of light, nor shall we ever build a perpetual motion machine that performs useful work. After laying the foundations of each theory, illuminated by stories of the scientists who discovered them, A. K. Dewdney then goes on to ask "What if?" Is there a way out? Are there no secret passages through these walls?

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, Mathematics

240 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Alexander Keewatin (A.K.) Dewdney is a professor of computer science at the University of Western Ontario, a mathematician, environmental scientist, and author of books on diverse subjects.

Wanderers of cyberspace may discover something about my life as a mathematician and computer scientist, environmental scientist, conservationist, and author of books and articles.

The name "Keewatin" is an Ojibway word meaning "north wind."
The name ":Dewdney" is from the French/Jewish name, "Dieudonne."

Reviews

[Martin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I understood the first two-fifths of the book (hence two out of five stars), but completely lost him from that point forward. I suppose I grasp the cosmos and quantum theories much better than I do elevated theoretical mathematical concepts. No matter, wanting to know this stuff is almost as joyous an experience as knowing this stuff. One day it'll stick. The author does a poor job, I have to say, of successfully explaining anything to an uninitiated layman. He explained statistics in a much more teacherly manner in his 200% book. My mind expanded anyway and I enjoyed. Not recommended for non-dorks.

[Awab Al-Rawe · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book had excellent expirements and problems but was very theoretical and scientific without much practical application.

[Roger B · Rating 4 out of 5]

High level survey of some interesting topics on the edge of math and science. best chapters were the ones on Goedel and on Quantum measurements. Accessible read despite some very complex ideas. So much we do not understand.

[Abbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dewdney does such a beautiful job of explaining scientific principles and philosophy that my heart broke when I found out one of the great tamers of pseudoscience became a '9/11 truther.'

[Maurizio Codogno · Rating 4 out of 5]

La mia recensione: http://xmau.com/notiziole/archives/00...

[Federico Kereki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good, but several typos!