Why Beliefs Matter by E Brian Davies
In the follow-up to his acclaimed Science in the Looking Glass, Brian Davies discusses deep problems about our place in the world, using a minimum of technical jargon. The book argues that 'absolutist' ideas of the objectivity of science, dating back to Plato, continue to mislead generations of both theoretical physicists and theologians. It explains that the multi-layered nature of our present descriptions of the world is unavoidable, not because of anything about the world, but because of our own human natures. It tries to rescue mathematics from the singular and exceptional status that it has been assigned, as much by those who understand it as by those who do not. Working throughout from direct quotations from many of the important contributors to its subject, it concludes with a penetrating criticism of many of the recent contributions to the often acrimonious debates about science and religions.
Davies has thought long and hard about the relationship of mathematics to the physical world, which gives him an interesting and even helpful perspective* Josh Reeves, ESSSAT News 21.3 *
Although some of the ideas in the book are complex, the presentation is both lucid and entertaining. It has made me re-evaluate my own beliefs about the nature of mathematics. Davies raises more questions than answers, and I strongly recommend to you this thought-provoking book. * Colva Roney-Dougal, The London Mathematical Society Newsletter *
... a wide-ranging, thought-provoking meditation. * Manjit Kumar, New Scientist *
Although some of the ideas in the book are complex, the presentation is both lucid and entertaining. It has made me re-evaluate my own beliefs about the nature of mathematics. Davies raises more questions than answers, and I strongly recommend to you this thought-provoking book. * Colva Roney-Dougal, The London Mathematical Society Newsletter *
... a wide-ranging, thought-provoking meditation. * Manjit Kumar, New Scientist *
E Brian Davies, Tutorial Fellow at St John's College, Oxford in 1970 and one of two editors for the Quarterly Journal of Mathematics, Oxford. Developed the theory of open quantum systems, writing a monograph on the subject, which became the standard text. Appointed to the Chair of Pure Mathematics
at King's College, London in 1981 and researched heat kernels and spectral theory. Subsequently became a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1995. His monograph on heat kernels, involving several hundred publications and having applications in many parts of mathematics, is the authoritative text on the
subject. Founded the London Mathematical Society Student Text Series in the 1980s, and has recently become Senior Editor for the LMS Monographs. Has previously been a member of the National Advisory Board of the Isaac Newton Institute and sat on the Research Assessment Exercise Panel for Pure
Mathematics in 2001. Published over 180 papers.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9780198704997 |
| ISBN 10 | 0198704992 |
| Title | Why Beliefs Matter |
| Author | E Brian Davies |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Paperback |
| Publisher | Oxford University Press |
| Year published | 2014-04-17 |
| Number of pages | 262 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |