Existential Physics
ISBN 9781984879455 | | |
| Website | https://existentialphysics.com/ | |
|---|---|---|
Existential Physics: A Scientist's Guide to Life's Biggest Questions is a
Content
Each chapter of the book tackles a different scientific or "ascientific" topic, moving between philosophical scientific subjects including
The book begins with a preface that contains a mental health warning due to the content challenging personal beliefs of readers, with Hossenfelder describing herself as an "agnostic heathen". This notice also includes statements that some spiritual beliefs work with our current understanding of physics and are unaffected by such research, with some few actually supporting our collective knowledge on the subject. The second chapter discusses how the universe started and what the end result will entail, serving as an overall breakdown of the history of cosmology. The third chapter examines the second law of thermodynamics, time, and entropy in the concept of why we get older instead of younger. Several chapters, including four, six, and nine, revolve around the issue of free will and what exactly consciousness is, also including reductionism and determinism. Chapter five attempts to tackle the many-worlds interpretation and whether science can even address the subject. An epilogue is included that concludes with the question "Is the universe made for us" and a discussion of the anthropic principle and how physics observations might bias our understanding of life's existence.[3]
Critical reception
Writing for the
Bethanne Patrick in the Los Angeles Times called Existential Physics the "most entertaining book" of the month and recommended that readers have an "open mind" and "enjoy the ride".[6] Science's Lisa Aziz-Zadeh noted that the book is the "perfect place" to begin questioning and understanding "life's big questions from a physics perspective", but did wish that perspectives from additional fields of study had been included.[7] Felix Haas in World Literature Today complimented the book, saying that it "further establishes its author as a beacon of clarity and sanity" and that it acts as an "invaluable resource" for those that wish to learn about how fundamental physics can "contribute to answering the most fundamental questions of our ontology".[8]
References
- ^ "Existential Physics: A Scientist's Guide to Life's Biggest Questions". Publishers Weekly. August 4, 2022. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
- ^ Wall Street Journal. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
- ^ S2CID 253798878. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
- ^ "Existential Physics". Kirkus Reviews. May 11, 2022. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
- ^ Lantz, Catherine (June 1, 2022). "Existential Physics: A Scientist's Guide to Life's Biggest Questions". Library Journal. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
- Newspapers.com.
- PMID 35653489. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
- ^ Haas, Felix (July 2022). "Existential Physics: A Scientist's Guide to Life's Biggest Questions by Sabine Hossenfelder". World Literature Today. Vol. 96, no. 4. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
- ^ Johnston, Hamish (October 31, 2022). "Testing limits: what science can and can't tell us about the universe". Physics World. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
- Bibcode:2022epsg.book.....H. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
Further reading
- Melissa Harris-Perry (August 11, 2022). "Getting Existential with a Physicist". The Takeaway (Podcast). WNYC. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
- Stephanie Bastek (August 12, 2022). "When Science Is Not the Answer". Smarty Pants (Podcast). The American Scholar. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
- Michael Shermer (August 23, 2022). "Sabine Hossenfelder — Existential Physics: A Scientist's Guide to Life's Biggest Questions". The Michael Shermer Show (Podcast). Skeptic. Retrieved February 17, 2023.