#Book #review. #Information and #Interaction.
Information and Interaction. Eddington, Wheeler, and the Limits of Knowledge
by Ian T. Durham and Dean Rickles (eds.)
Springer, 2017
http://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783319437583
This book, edited by Ian Durham and DeanRickles, contains ten contributions about a fundamental issue in physics, and in science as well, written by different authors, including the editors themselves, namely, which role is played by an apparent abstract concept like that of "information" in the formulation and in the understanding of physics theories.
The contributors work in several fields, from the history of science to quantum physics, and from epistemology to philosophy, and the genesis of this work can be dated back to a conference bearing the same name held more than three years ago at the Trinity College in Cambridge, UK. The two scientists cited in the subtitle have a particular importance in the subject. Eddington had a pioneering and quite discussed role toward the end of his career with his attempt at formulating a Fundamental Theory that could make useful predictions from pure reasoning based on the a priori knowledge of the physical world and its observers. Wheeler, with his famous it from bit aphorism, supported a bold statement according to which information, in the form of bits, represented the most elementary ingredient of the universe.
Here the authors try to make a historical and epistemological analysis of the work of these two scientists and to develop further on their tracks with more recent developments, like the Constructor Theory.
This book is not for the faint-hearted physicist. However, if you have the guts to face it, you will find many clues and cues to start thinking about. Especially on subjects that usually are not considered a matter of debate.
This is the joy and sorrow of such fundamental questions of science.
by Ian T. Durham and Dean Rickles (eds.)
Springer, 2017
http://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783319437583
The contributors work in several fields, from the history of science to quantum physics, and from epistemology to philosophy, and the genesis of this work can be dated back to a conference bearing the same name held more than three years ago at the Trinity College in Cambridge, UK. The two scientists cited in the subtitle have a particular importance in the subject. Eddington had a pioneering and quite discussed role toward the end of his career with his attempt at formulating a Fundamental Theory that could make useful predictions from pure reasoning based on the a priori knowledge of the physical world and its observers. Wheeler, with his famous it from bit aphorism, supported a bold statement according to which information, in the form of bits, represented the most elementary ingredient of the universe.
Here the authors try to make a historical and epistemological analysis of the work of these two scientists and to develop further on their tracks with more recent developments, like the Constructor Theory.
This book is not for the faint-hearted physicist. However, if you have the guts to face it, you will find many clues and cues to start thinking about. Especially on subjects that usually are not considered a matter of debate.
This is the joy and sorrow of such fundamental questions of science.
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