The Beginning of Infinity
LC Class Q175.32.E97 D48 2011 | | |
Preceded by | The Fabric of Reality |
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The Beginning of Infinity: Explanations that Transform the World is a popular science book by the physicist David Deutsch first published in 2011.[1][2][3]
Synopsis
Deutsch views the Enlightenment of the 18th century as near the beginning of an infinite sequence of purposeful knowledge creation. Knowledge here consists of information with good explanatory function that has proven resistant to falsification. Any real process is physically possible to perform provided the knowledge to do so has been acquired. The Enlightenment set up the conditions for knowledge creation which disrupted the static societies that previously existed. These conditions are the valuing of creativity and the free and open debate that exposed ideas to criticism to reveal those good explanatory ideas that naturally resist being falsified due to their having basis in reality. Deutsch points to previous moments in history, such as Renaissance Florence and Plato's Academy in Golden Age Athens, where this process almost got underway before succumbing to their static societies' resistance to change.
The source of intelligence is more complicated than brute computational power, Deutsch conjectures, and he points to the lack of progress in Turing test
Deutsch sees
Deutsch speculates on the process of human-culture development from a
Deutsch criticizes Jared Diamond's resource luck theories as to why the West came to dominate the other continents outlined in his book Guns, Germs, and Steel. For Deutsch, the sustained creation of knowledge could have arisen anywhere and led to a beginning of infinity; it just happened to arise in Europe first. Deutsch extols the philosophical concept of optimism, where although problems are inevitable, solutions will always exist provided the right knowledge is sought out and acquired.
Reception
Doug Johnstone writes in The Independent that Deutsch's "examination of the multiverse theory of quantum physics is great. But when he tries to apply his ideas to aesthetics, cultural creativity and moral philosophy, he seems on shakier ground and is less commanding as a result".[2]
Peter Forbes, also writing in The Independent, has a more positive take on Deutsch's ideas and mode of thinking.[6]
The Economist's review says The Beginning of Infinity is "equally bold" as Deutsch's previous book The Fabric of Reality, and "its conclusions are just as profound. Mr Deutsch argues that decent explanations inform moral philosophy, political philosophy and even aesthetics. He is provocative and persuasive."[1]
Kirkus Reviews' take is that the book is "A philosophical exploration of progress, surprisingly lucid and thought-provoking".[7]
See also
References
- ^ a b "In the beginning: A quantum physicist's long-awaited second book". The Economist. 24 March 2011. Archived from the original on 29 August 2011. Retrieved 15 September 2011.
- ^ a b Johnstone, Doug (27 March 2011). "The Beginning of Infinity, By David Deutsch: Brain the size of Birmingham, ego bigger still". The Independent. Archived from the original on 17 August 2011. Retrieved 15 September 2011.
- Horgan, John (20 July 2011). "To Err Is Progress. How to foster the growth of scientific knowledge: accept that it is limited no matter how definitive it may seem". The Wall Street Journal. Archivedfrom the original on 14 September 2015. Retrieved 17 September 2011.
- ^ Beginning of Infinity, p. 294
- ^ Albert, David (12 August 2011). "Explaining it All: How We Became the Center of the Universe". The New York Times Sunday Book Review. Archived from the original on 9 September 2017. Retrieved 15 September 2011.
- ^ Forbes, Peter (1 April 2011). "The Beginning of Infinity: Explanations that Transform the World, By David Deutsch". The Independent. Archived from the original on 28 January 2012. Retrieved 15 September 2011.
- ^ "The Beginning of Infinity". Kirkus Reviews. 1 June 2011. Archived from the original on 3 August 2016. Retrieved 15 September 2011.