The Why of Things: Causality in Science, Medicine, and Life
Select Format
Select Condition 
Book Overview
Why was there a meltdown at the Fukushima power plant? Why do some people get cancer and not others? Why is global warming happening? Why does one person get depressed in the face of life's vicissitudes while another finds resilience?
Questions like these--questions of causality--form the basis of modern scientific inquiry, posing profound intellectual and methodological challenges for researchers in the physical, natural, biomedical, and social sciences. In this groundbreaking book, noted psychiatrist and author Peter Rabins offers a conceptual framework for analyzing daunting questions of causality. Navigating a lively intellectual voyage between the shoals of strict reductionism and relativism, Rabins maps a three-facet model of causality and applies it to a variety of questions in science, medicine, economics, and more. Throughout this book, Rabins situates his argument within relevant scientific contexts, such as quantum mechanics, cybernetics, chaos theory, and epigenetics. A renowned communicator of complex concepts and scientific ideas, Rabins helps readers stretch their minds beyond the realm of popular literary tipping points, blinks, and freakonomic explanations of the world.Format:Paperback
Language:English
ISBN:0231164734
ISBN13:9780231164733
Release Date:August 2015
Publisher:Columbia University Press
Length:304 Pages
Weight:0.85 lbs.
Dimensions:0.7" x 6.0" x 8.9"
Grade Range:Postsecondary and higher
Customer Reviews
1 rating
Worth owning a copy
Published by a guy , 1 year ago
I tried starting this book a couple of times and could not focus. BUT once I got into it I found this really meaty. I read a chapter or even just a section every morning. It puts me in the right frame of mind. I’m glad I own a copy. Thank you Peter Rabins
Copyright © 2025 Thriftbooks.com
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information | Cookie Policy | Cookie Preferences | Accessibility Statement
ThriftBooks ® and the ThriftBooks ® logo are registered trademarks of Thrift Books Global, LLC
ThriftBooks ® and the ThriftBooks ® logo are registered trademarks of Thrift Books Global, LLC
