Fashion, Faith, and Fantasy in the New Physics of the Universe
Fashion, Faith, and Fantasy in the New Physics of the Universe
Penrose, Roger
product information
Condition: New, UPC: 9780691119793, Publication Date: Thu, September 1, 2016, Type: Hardcover ,
join & start selling
description
2

Nobel Prize-winning physicist Roger Penrose questions some of the most fashionable ideas in physics today, including string theory

What can fashionable ideas, blind faith, or pure fantasy possibly have to do with the scientific quest to understand the universe? Surely, theoretical physicists are immune to mere trends, dogmatic beliefs, or flights of fancy? In fact, acclaimed physicist and bestselling author Roger Penrose argues that researchers working at the extreme frontiers of physics are just as susceptible to these forces as anyone else. In this provocative book, he argues that fashion, faith, and fantasy, while sometimes productive and even essential in physics, may be leading today's researchers astray in three of the field's most important areas--string theory, quantum mechanics, and cosmology.

Arguing that string theory has veered away from physical reality by positing six extra hidden dimensions, Penrose cautions that the fashionable nature of a theory can cloud our judgment of its plausibility. In the case of quantum mechanics, its stunning success in explaining the atomic universe has led to an uncritical faith that it must also apply to reasonably massive objects, and Penrose responds by suggesting possible changes in quantum theory. Turning to cosmology, he argues that most of the current fantastical ideas about the origins of the universe cannot be true, but that an even wilder reality may lie behind them. Finally, Penrose describes how fashion, faith, and fantasy have ironically also shaped his own work, from twistor theory, a possible alternative to string theory that is beginning to acquire a fashionable status, to conformal cyclic cosmology, an idea so fantastic that it could be called conformal crazy cosmology.

The result is an important critique of some of the most significant developments in physics today from one of its most eminent figures.

reviews

Be the first to write a review

member goods

No member items were found under this heading.

notems store

Dancing Miss Manners at the ...

by Milliken, T. C.

Hardcover /Hardcover

$15.67

The Tomorrow Code

by Falkner, Brian

Paperback /Paperback

$11.21

Curious Kingdoms

by Sheehan, Luke

Hardcover /Hardcover

$18.37

Harriet Hall and the Miracle ...

by Garrett, Sonia

Paperback /Paperback

$7.49

listens & views

NUCLEAR

by SYSTEM,KRYSTAL

COMPACT DISC

out of stock

$15.49

ZEH HAYOM: THIS IS THE ...

by SLOIN,FELICIA

COMPACT DISC

out of stock

$18.25

POP MUSIC IS BETTER (FRA)

by PM'S BETTER

COMPACT DISC

out of stock

$10.99

Return Policy

All sales are final

Shipping

No special shipping considerations available.
Shipping fees determined at checkout.