David Lindley Bücher

Anschaulich und klar erzählt der Physiker und Journalist David Lindley, wie die Entdeckung der Unbestimmtheitsrelation durch Werner Heisenberg in den 1920er Jahren die bis dahin gültigen physikalischen Annahmen zum Einsturz brachte und unsere Sicht der Welt veränderte. Heisenbergs Entdeckung der Unschärferelation stellte jahrhundertelange physikalische Gewissheiten in Frage. Unbestimmtheit wurde Teil der physikalischen Realität, die zuvor von Präzision und Kausalitäten dominiert war. Diese Erkenntnis hatte weitreichende Folgen, die über die Physik hinausgingen und in Philosophie sowie Alltagskultur Einzug hielten. Während Albert Einstein vehement gegen Heisenbergs revolutionäre Einsicht opponierte, erkannte der dänische Physiker Niels Bohr deren Bedeutung. Lindley lässt die Irritation und Faszination lebendig werden, die von dieser bedeutenden naturwissenschaftlichen Entdeckung des letzten Jahrhunderts bis heute ausgeht. Die Darstellung behandelt einen Meilenstein der physikalischen Erkenntnis im 20. Jahrhundert, der unsere Sicht auf die Welt und das wissenschaftliche Denken grundlegend veränderte, und bietet eine für Laien verständliche Erklärung der Heisenberg’schen Ideen sowie spannende Einsichten in die Wechselbeziehung zwischen Naturwissenschaften und populärer Kultur.

The book delves into the murder trials of Frances Howard, exploring her portrayal through various lenses such as wife, witch, murderess, and whore. It critically examines the historical narratives that have shaped her image, questioning the stereotypes of female villainy and revealing the complexities of her character. Through this re-examination, the author seeks to challenge prevailing assumptions and provide a deeper understanding of Howard's life and the societal contexts that influenced her representation.

Set in the early 1900s, the narrative explores Ludwig Boltzmann's relentless struggle to gain acceptance for atomic theory amidst widespread skepticism from the scientific community. Over four decades, he faced opposition from philosophers and the establishment while grappling with personal challenges. His eventual triumph paved the way for groundbreaking advancements in physics, marking the onset of the atomic century and influencing significant scientific achievements that followed.

The gripping, entertaining, and vividly-told narrative of a radical discovery that sent shockwaves through the scientific community and forever changed the way we understand the world. Werner Heisenberg’s “uncertainty principle” challenged centuries of scientific understanding, placed him in direct opposition to Albert Einstein, and put Niels Bohr in the middle of one of the most heated debates in scientific history. Heisenberg’s theorem stated that there were physical limits to what we could know about sub-atomic particles; this “uncertainty” would have shocking implications. In a riveting and lively account, David Lindley captures this critical episode and explains one of the most important scientific discoveries in history, which has since transcended the boundaries of science and influenced everything from literary theory to television.

A vivid and captivating narrative about how modern science broke free of ancient philosophy, and how theoretical physics is returning to its unscientific roots In the early seventeenth century Galileo broke free from the hold of ancient Platonic and Aristotelian philosophy. He drastically changed the framework through which we view the natural world when he asserted that we should base our theory of reality on what we can observe rather than pure thought. In the process, he invented what we would come to call science. This set the stage for all the breakthroughs that followed--from Kepler to Newton to Einstein. But in the early twentieth century when quantum physics, with its deeply complex mathematics, entered into the picture, something began to change. Many physicists began looking to the equations first and physical reality second. As we investigate realms further and further from what we can see and what we can test, we must look to elegant, aesthetically pleasing equations to develop our conception of what reality is. As a result, much of theoretical physics today is something more akin to the philosophy of Plato than the science to which the physicists are heirs. In The Dream Universe, Lindley asks what is science when it becomes completely untethered from measurable phenomena?

Exploring the nature of existence, the narrative delves into the struggle between subjective experience and the objective world. It emphasizes that life is often accepted passively, with individuals feeling trapped in their given conditions. The text suggests that true understanding and redemption lie not in external answers but in recognizing one's role as a creator of their aesthetic experience. Through this lens, the book challenges readers to confront their anxieties and redefine their existence beyond the limitations imposed by the external world.

Focusing on the essence of self-awareness, this modern verse rendition of the Bhagavad Gita offers a fresh perspective on the text, clarifying its central teachings about the nature of self, action, and non-action. The author aims to strip away the layers of Eastern and Western interpretations that have obscured its meaning, providing a readable yet accurate translation. Accompanied by notes and commentary, this work helps readers navigate the complex themes of spirituality and self-understanding inherent in this important philosophical text.

Exploring the concepts of order and meaning, this collection presents aphorisms, reflections, and essays that delve into the principle of aesthetic sufficiency. It argues that this principle serves as the sole valid basis for mental judgment, inviting readers to contemplate the interplay between aesthetics and cognition. Through thought-provoking insights, the work challenges conventional perspectives and encourages a deeper understanding of how we derive meaning in our lives.