| Nikon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 G ED-IF AF | |
|
|
|
On Space and Time | 
 enlarge | Creators: Alain Connes, Michael Heller, Roger Penrose, John Polkinghorne, Andrew Taylor, Shahn Majid
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Category: Book
List Price: $26.00
Buy New: $17.16
You Save: $8.84 (34%)
New (35) Used (10) from $12.99
Rating:  3 reviews
Sales Rank: 169365
Media: Hardcover
Pages: 320
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.3
Dimensions (in): 9.1 x 6.1 x 1
ISBN: 052188926X
Dewey Decimal Number: 523.1
EAN: 9780521889261
ASIN: 052188926X
Publication Date: October 31, 2008
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
| |
| Similar Items:
|
| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
What is the true nature of space and time? These concepts are at the heart of science, but they remain deeply wrapped in mystery. Both house their structure at the smallest pre-subatomic and the largest cosmological levels continues to defy modern physics and may require revolutionary new ideas for which science is still grasping. This unique volume brings together world leaders in cosmology, particle physics, quantum gravity, mathematics, philosophy and theology, to provide fresh insights into the deep structure of space and time. Andrew Taylor, Shahn Majid, Roger Penrose, Alain Connes, Michael Heller, and John Polkinghorne all experts in their respective fields, explain their theories in this outstanding compiled text.
A note from Simon Capelin, one of scholarly science publishing's leading editors: What is space? What is time? Is space infinite? Does time have a beginning? These questions have fascinated scientists, philosophers and theologians alike for hundreds of years, and the answers continue to elude us today. Current theories fall short of answers to the deeper questions, and the structure of space and time continues to defy modern physics. But the quest to understand the nature of space and time does not just lie with scientists. The search raises theological questions about the nature of physical reality itself, and what it means to exist. So, after more than two thousand years of thought and several hundred years of science, what do we know about the nature of space and time? This question was posed to a panel of six world leaders in physics, mathematics, and theology in a public discussion held at Emmanuel College, Cambridge: Sir Roger Penrose, who has made many remarkable contributions to science; John Polkinghorne KBE, a renowned theologian and particle physicist; Alain Connes, Fields medalist, and one of the world's foremost mathematicians; Michael Heller, a key contributor to the fields of science, theology, and philosophy; Shahn Majid, one of the pioneers in the theory of quantum symmetry; and Andrew Taylor, who has made major contributions in the study of dark matter and dark energy. In this book, each of these very distinguished authors expands on the theories presented at the discussion. They offer their personal perspectives, providing unique insights on this matter, from the structure of spacetime, dark matter, quantum spacetime, and what happened before the Big Bang, to the nature of time, metaphysics, and the philosophical and theological implications of spacetime.
|
| Customer Reviews:
 On the nature of time and space November 12, 2008
Isabel Noronha (United Kingdom)
7 out of 9 found this review helpful
The nature of space and time is not a problem that puzzles physicists, mathematicians and philosophers only. For historians, time and space are two of the three most important categories we need to consider in our analyses. This volume helps put the debate on time and space into a wider context, making a cross disciplinary discussion about the elements that are at the very heart of modern
science available to non experts whilst, at the same time, offering cutting-edge research on the enigma of time and space. This book was an eye-opener for me as I had no idea that so much on this topic was still such a mystery even to physicists. There are chapters on dark
matter and energy, on quantum symmetry, on Penrose's pre-Big Bang theory, on particle physics, and on philosophical and theological implications of space and time. It is a book of different levels and in my case the technical aspects were always going to be challenging,
but its nice to know that the arguments are there for readers who want to work through them. The chapters covering philosophy and theology would be a good place to start. This volume is a must-read for those wishing to understand when did "time" begin, and where is that thing which some call "space"? And it also looks really good on
my coffee table right next to A Brief History of Time and my battered copy of The End of History.
 Mixed quality December 7, 2008
J. Koelman
5 out of 6 found this review helpful
I bought this book in the hope to learn in particular about noncommutative spacetime theories. This new book by Fields medalist and undisputed world leader in the field of noncommutative geometry, Alain Connes, would be the first popular science book presenting these ideas for a non-specialist audience. So my expectations were high.
Too high it appears.
First, let it be stated very clear here: this book is not by Connes. Amazon should update their database and display "Shahn Majid (Ed.)" as author. Connes is just one of the contributers, yet his name is conveniently displayed as first author. The blurb claims: "this unique volume brings together world leaders in cosmology, particle physics, quantum gravity, mathematics, philosophy and theology". As far as I can judge, there are only two big names amongst the contributers (Connes and Penrose). The others might be established names, but they seem far removed from being "world leaders".
The contribution by Connes itself (covering about 40 pages of the book) I found disappointing. Lots of generalities and very little about noncommutative geometry. Where it goes deeper into mathematics, the notation and definitions are unclear, and it seems he never gets to the heart of the matter.
The contribution of the other 'big name', Roger Penrose is better, but contains a lot of material presented already in his superb book 'The Road to Reality'. The new material Penrose has added is about conformal cyclic cosmology.
In my opinion, the best contribution (and certainly the largest at close to 90 pages) comes from the editor Shahn Majid. He actually does go into noncommutative geometry, explains its relevance to quantum gravity, and presents some simple examples of noncommutative algebras one can play with mathematically. The last two sections of his text (on 'self-dual structures and 'relative reality') were however rather vague.
Amongst the other contributors you will find Michael Heller and John Polkinghorne. The former is linked to the Vatican, and the latter an Anglican theologian. Their contributions are of metaphysical nature and try to make a link between modern physics and theology. In my opinion the book would have been better without these two contributions.
The editor, Majid, has also written the preface. I suspect it proved impossible to attract a renowned scientist to write a preface to this collection of popular science texts of rather mixed quality.
On the positive side, this hardcover edition is of good binding quality, with an attractive cover, and certainly priced favourably (even surprisingly so for a book in this category). Yet, someone interested to read a book containing a collection of contemporary theories on quantum gravity and the nature of spacetime, I would advise similar, perhaps more expensive but content wise better, collections such as Callender and Huggett's "Physics Meets Philosophy at the Planck Scale: Contemporary Theories in Quantum Gravity".
Barely three stars, with the very affordable price and Majid's contribution preventing this book from dropping below that level.
Very difficult to follow December 13, 2008
J. Jenkins (Toronto, Canada)
2 out of 4 found this review helpful
I really love the idea behind this book, which is that a unified theory of forces requires a rethink of the nature of space and time. However the passages written by Alain Connes and Majid are very difficult to follow, because the mathematics is way beyond me. I can understand the concept of noncommutative geometry both of these are working with but the actual application to physics and practical understanding is hard to follow. Some of Connes' remarks regarding solving physical problems through his theory surprise me in their optimism. Roger Penrose's article is very much indebted to 'the road to reality' in its ideas and expositions.
For some reason there are philosophical chapters and religious ones included, which appear to me completely gratuitous, hence the 3-star rating. The first chapter is a very quick and brief review of cosmology and quantum theory, ending with the puzzle of unifying standard model and gravity (i.e. general relativity). I would love to understand more about Connes and Majid but unfortunately these mathematicians are not intending to make their theories too understandable for the educated layperson in this particular book.
|
|
|
| |
