Authors:
- Introduces a broader audience to emergence and the evidence for it within the physical sciences
- Refutes common misconceptions about science and reductionism
- Contains approachable explorations of fairly advanced topics, such as quantum entanglement, the second law of thermodynamics and irreversablity, mean field theory, phase transitions and renormalization, nonlinear pattern formation and complexity
- Discusses these modern topics in the context of emergence as an overarching theme
- Includes reflections on broader philosophical implications of emergence as informed by the physical sciences
- Features creative analogies and metaphors, as well as engaging historical and biographical information, to make the subject accessible to the educated non-specialist
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Table of contents (8 chapters)
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Front Matter
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Back Matter
About this book
One of the main benefits of this book is that it will make a number of exciting scientific concepts that are not normally covered at this level accessible to a broader audience. The overall presentation, including the use of examples, analogies, metaphors, and biographical interludes, is geared for the educated non-specialist.
Reviews
“It is a good introduction to a scientific approach to emergence, for one thing. Its scientific explanations are inviting to a lay readership prepared to work at them, and in most cases delightfully laid out. The presentation of renormalisation and critical behaviour is very good indeed.” (Tom McLeish, Science & Christian Belief, Vol. 31 (1), 2019)
Authors and Affiliations
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Department of Physics & Astronomy, Dickinson College, Carlisle, USA
Lars Q. English
About the author
Lars enjoys contemplating connections between science, philosophy and spirituality, meditating, hiking in beautiful Pennsylvania, and --most of all--spending time with his wife Anita and three daughters Anya, Chelsea and Nalanda.
Bibliographic Information
Book Title: There Is No Theory of Everything
Book Subtitle: A Physics Perspective on Emergence
Authors: Lars Q. English
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-59150-6
Publisher: Springer Cham
eBook Packages: Physics and Astronomy, Physics and Astronomy (R0)
Copyright Information: Springer International Publishing AG 2017
Hardcover ISBN: 978-3-319-59149-0Published: 23 August 2017
Softcover ISBN: 978-3-319-86556-0Published: 04 August 2018
eBook ISBN: 978-3-319-59150-6Published: 14 August 2017
Edition Number: 1
Number of Pages: XIV, 224
Number of Illustrations: 10 b/w illustrations, 22 illustrations in colour
Topics: Applications of Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos Theory, Philosophy of Science, History and Philosophical Foundations of Physics, Societal Aspects of Physics, Outreach and Education, Statistical Physics and Dynamical Systems