Beyond Reason: Eight Great Problems That Reveal the Limits of Science
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Book Overview
A mind-bending excursion to the limits of science and mathematics
Are some scientific problems insoluble? In Beyond Reason, internationally acclaimed math and science author A. K. Dewdney answers this question by examining eight insurmountable mathematical and scientific roadblocks that have stumped thinkers across the centuries, from ancient mathematical conundrums such as "squaring the circle," first attempted by the Pythagoreans, to G?del's vexing theorem, from perpetual motion to the upredictable behavior of chaotic systems such as the weather.
A. K. Dewdney, PhD (Ontario, Canada), was the author of Scientific American's "Computer Recreations" column for eight years. He has written several critically acclaimed popular math and science books, including A Mathematical Mystery Tour (0-471-40734-8); Yes, We Have No Neutrons (0-471-29586-8); and 200% of Nothing (0-471-14574-2).
Are some scientific problems insoluble? In Beyond Reason, internationally acclaimed math and science author A. K. Dewdney answers this question by examining eight insurmountable mathematical and scientific roadblocks that have stumped thinkers across the centuries, from ancient mathematical conundrums such as "squaring the circle," first attempted by the Pythagoreans, to G?del's vexing theorem, from perpetual motion to the upredictable behavior of chaotic systems such as the weather.
A. K. Dewdney, PhD (Ontario, Canada), was the author of Scientific American's "Computer Recreations" column for eight years. He has written several critically acclaimed popular math and science books, including A Mathematical Mystery Tour (0-471-40734-8); Yes, We Have No Neutrons (0-471-29586-8); and 200% of Nothing (0-471-14574-2).
Format:Hardcover
Language:English
ISBN:0471013986
ISBN13:9780471013983
Release Date:April 2004
Publisher:Wiley
Length:224 Pages
Weight:0.85 lbs.
Dimensions:0.9" x 6.4" x 9.0"
Customer Reviews
1 rating
Obviously for a Specific Audience
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 20 years ago
Dewdney's book is very interesting, challenging, and is, admittedly, a tough read. You might need ready access to Google to look up some of the terms he uses. But for the most part, anyone who took high school math and physics should be able to understand it. I'd recommend it to college and graduate students, and math and physics instructors. It has its down points, but on the whole is a very intriguing look at some of the problems afflicting all our logic.
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