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Fashion, Faith, and Fantasy in the New Physics of the Universe

by Roger Penrose
Fashion, Faith, and Fantasy in the New Physics of the Universe
Fashion, Faith, and Fantasy in the New Physics of the Universe

Challenging physics' trends with critical acumen.

If you've ever been intrigued by the labyrinth of modern physics, where theories like string theory and quantum mechanics reign, Penrose's 'Fashion, Faith, and Fantasy in the New Physics of the Universe' could serve as an illuminating beacon, guiding you through the complexity with critical insight. Penrose is not just any critic; he's a seasoned physicist questioning the allure of popular theories. He invites you to look beyond the allure, offering a perspective that's both challenging and refreshing. This book can be a mind-bending journey for those who dare to question the status quo alongside an intellectual giant.

  • PROSE Award for Chemistry and Physics (2017)
Note: While we do our best to ensure the accuracy of cover images, ISBNs may at times be reused for different editions of the same title which may hence appear as a different cover.

Fashion, Faith, and Fantasy in the New Physics of the Universe

by Roger Penrose
Condition guide

Book Condition Guide

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*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

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We do our best to ensure the quality of our books, but there is no escaping the wear and tear that comes with time. Slight foxing and some annotations may be present on the pages and the cover. There should be no water damage of any kind. For paperbacks, there may be several crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

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This is a well-read book, which means that the previous owner probably really enjoyed it! The cover and pages may include moderate foxing and annotations, but the text is not obscured and still readable. Moderate cosmetic defects and minor water damage may be present on the edges of the book. For paperbacks, there may be multiple crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

 

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ISBN: 9780691178530
Author: Roger Penrose
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Date of Publication: 2017-09-05
Format: Paperback
Related Collections: Science, Philosophy
Related Topics: Mathematics, Physics, Popular Science, Psychology
Goodreads rating: 3.9
(rated by 281 readers)

Description

What can fashionable ideas, blind faith, or pure fantasy possibly have to do with the scientific quest to understand the universe? Surely, theoretical physicists are immune to mere trends, dogmatic beliefs, or flights of fancy? In fact, acclaimed physicist and bestselling author Roger Penrose argues that researchers working at the extreme frontiers of physics are just as susceptible to these forces as anyone else. In this provocative book, he argues that fashion, faith, and fantasy, while sometimes productive and even essential in physics, may be leading today's researchers astray in three of the field's most important areas—string theory, quantum mechanics, and cosmology. Arguing that string theory has veered away from physical reality by positing six extra hidden dimensions, Penrose cautions that the fashionable nature of a theory can cloud our judgment of its plausibility. In the case of quantum mechanics, its stunning success in explaining the atomic universe has led to an uncritical faith that it must also apply to reasonably massive objects, and Penrose responds by suggesting possible changes in quantum theory. Turning to cosmology, he argues that most of the current fantastical ideas about the origins of the universe cannot be true, but that an even wilder reality may lie behind them. Finally, Penrose describes how fashion, faith, and fantasy have ironically also shaped his own work, from twistor theory, a possible alternative to string theory
 

Challenging physics' trends with critical acumen.

If you've ever been intrigued by the labyrinth of modern physics, where theories like string theory and quantum mechanics reign, Penrose's 'Fashion, Faith, and Fantasy in the New Physics of the Universe' could serve as an illuminating beacon, guiding you through the complexity with critical insight. Penrose is not just any critic; he's a seasoned physicist questioning the allure of popular theories. He invites you to look beyond the allure, offering a perspective that's both challenging and refreshing. This book can be a mind-bending journey for those who dare to question the status quo alongside an intellectual giant.

  • PROSE Award for Chemistry and Physics (2017)
Note: While we do our best to ensure the accuracy of cover images, ISBNs may at times be reused for different editions of the same title which may hence appear as a different cover.

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