Libro que me han prestado: The Large, the Small and the Human Mind por Roger Penrose

por davidgp el 06/02/2008

Estaba pensando en poner como introducción de este libro algo así como: ¡Lo escribió Penrose! ¿Qué más necesitáis saber? Pero quedaría un poco arrogante por mi parte, sobretodo teniendo en cuenta que no leí nada de él… pero desde que me comentaron The Road to Reality: A Complete Guide to the Laws of the Universe siempre ha sido un libro que quise tener en mi estantería, por que leerlo me llevaría mucho tiempo para entender todo lo que ponen en él. Al menos espero que este sea algo más ameno ;-).

The Large, The Small and the Human Mind

De la contraportada

Rogen Penrose’s original and provocative ideas about the large-scale physics of the Universe, the small-scale world of quantum physics of the mind have been the subject of controversy and dicussion. These ideas were set forth in hist best-selling books The Emperor’s New Mind and Shadows of the Mind. In this book, he summarises and brings up to date his current thinking in these complex areas. He presents a masterful summary of those areas of physics in he which feels there are major unsolved problems. Through this, he introduces radically new concepts which he believes will be fruitful in understanding the wokrings of the brain and the nature of the human mind. These ideas are then challenged by three distinguished experts from different backgrounds – Abner Shimony and Nancy Cartwright as Philosophers of Science and Stephen Hawking as a Theoretical Physicist and Cosmologist. Finally, Roger Penrose responds to their thought-provoking criticisms.

This paperback edition has been updated to include a striking and easily accesible example of Gödel’s theorem, and a ground-breaking proposal for a physical experiment designed to test some of Penrose’s most novel ideas about quantum mechanics.

This volume provides an accessible, illuminating and stimulating introduction to Roger Penrose’s vision of theoretical physics for the 21st Century. His enthusiasm, insight and good humor shine through this brilliant account of the problems of moderm physics.

‘To see a scientist of Penrose’s ability, stature and achievement toss large parts of modern physics into the air as though juggling balls and try to keep them aloft while marshalling tham into a coherent pattern is a thing to behold. [This book] is a wonderful illustration of a first-rate scientist doing what first-rate scientist have always done: make bold conjectures and display them for others to confirm, refute or amend.’ -Keith Devlin, New Scientist.

‘When Oxford physiciest and mathematician Penrose… has something to say about general relativity, quantum physics and artificial intelligence, we would do well to listen.’ – Publishers Weekly.

‘… a very interesting and stimulating book.’ – Brian Josephson, Times Higher Education Supplement.

‘… provocative and rewarding.’ – Kirkus Reviews.

‘…one could hardly ask for a shrewder or more enthusiastic tour guide to the extremes of physics.’ – Scientific American.

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