Sigmund delves into fascinating philosophical areas but delivers an overwhelming amount of information.
Philosophers and mathematicians don’t have much in common, right? A mathematician disagrees.
Sigmund, professor emeritus of mathematics at the University of Vienna and author of Exact Thinking in Demented Times, makes his case in nearly 400 pages of lucid prose. The author is a fine writer, but this is not Mathematics and Philosophy for Dummies; readers without a background in both may struggle. The first section “traces the evolution of the self-image of mathematics.” Evidence alone supports scientific laws; they can never be proven beyond a doubt. Not so with mathematics, but Sigmund’s explanations of mathematical proofs—dense with equations and diagrams—are not for the faint of heart. Surprisingly, proving that 1 + 1 = 2 is a complex operation. In the second section of the book, the author deals with chance, the continuum, and infinity, which goes beyond common sense and often vexes philosophers with problems such as “how an infinitesimal could be smaller than anything and yet not zero.” Beginning with the Enlightenment, mathematicians began stepping on philosophical toes by examining human behavior and institutions with often intriguing results. These occupy the book’s third and fourth sections and are more accessible. In the digital age, computers are the rage even for deep thinkers, and it’s become so difficult to maintain that computers are not intelligent that experts have moved the goalposts to maintain that they are not conscious. It turns out that humans are “utterly inept” at estimating probabilities, risks, and even fairness. Many Americans have no doubt that our winner-take-all voting system is superior, but it’s proven that all voting systems are unfair. Sigmund also examines irresistible areas such as game theory, probability, decisions, and the social contract, as well as parables such as the Prisoner’s Dilemma.
Sigmund delves into fascinating philosophical areas but delivers an overwhelming amount of information.Pub Date: Dec. 19, 2023
ISBN: 9781541602694
Page Count: 448
Publisher: Basic Books
Review Posted Online: Sept. 20, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
Alternately admiring and critical, unvarnished, and a closely detailed account of a troubled innovator.
A warts-and-all portrait of the famed techno-entrepreneur—and the warts are nearly beyond counting.
To call Elon Musk (b. 1971) “mercurial” is to undervalue the term; to call him a genius is incorrect. Instead, Musk has a gift for leveraging the genius of others in order to make things work. When they don’t, writes eminent biographer Isaacson, it’s because the notoriously headstrong Musk is so sure of himself that he charges ahead against the advice of others: “He does not like to share power.” In this sharp-edged biography, the author likens Musk to an earlier biographical subject, Steve Jobs. Given Musk’s recent political turn, born of the me-first libertarianism of the very rich, however, Henry Ford also comes to mind. What emerges clearly is that Musk, who may or may not have Asperger’s syndrome (“Empathy did not come naturally”), has nurtured several obsessions for years, apart from a passion for the letter X as both a brand and personal name. He firmly believes that “all requirements should be treated as recommendations”; that it is his destiny to make humankind a multi-planetary civilization through innovations in space travel; that government is generally an impediment and that “the thought police are gaining power”; and that “a maniacal sense of urgency” should guide his businesses. That need for speed has led to undeniable successes in beating schedules and competitors, but it has also wrought disaster: One of the most telling anecdotes in the book concerns Musk’s “demon mode” order to relocate thousands of Twitter servers from Sacramento to Portland at breakneck speed, which trashed big parts of the system for months. To judge by Isaacson’s account, that may have been by design, for Musk’s idea of creative destruction seems to mean mostly chaos.
Alternately admiring and critical, unvarnished, and a closely detailed account of a troubled innovator.Pub Date: Sept. 12, 2023
ISBN: 9781982181284
Page Count: 688
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Sept. 12, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK TO SCREEN
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.
A compendium of charts, time lines, lists and illustrations to accompany study of the Bible.
This visually appealing resource provides a wide array of illustrative and textually concise references, beginning with three sets of charts covering the Bible as a whole, the Old Testament and the New Testament. These charts cover such topics as biblical weights and measures, feasts and holidays and the 12 disciples. Most of the charts use a variety of illustrative techniques to convey lessons and provide visual interest. A worthwhile example is “How We Got the Bible,” which provides a time line of translation history, comparisons of canons among faiths and portraits of important figures in biblical translation, such as Jerome and John Wycliffe. The book then presents a section of maps, followed by diagrams to conceptualize such structures as Noah’s Ark and Solomon’s Temple. Finally, a section on Christianity, cults and other religions describes key aspects of history and doctrine for certain Christian sects and other faith traditions. Overall, the authors take a traditionalist, conservative approach. For instance, they list Moses as the author of the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible) without making mention of claims to the contrary. When comparing various Christian sects and world religions, the emphasis is on doctrine and orthodox theology. Some chapters, however, may not completely align with the needs of Catholic and Orthodox churches. But the authors’ leanings are muted enough and do not detract from the work’s usefulness. As a resource, it’s well organized, inviting and visually stimulating. Even the most seasoned reader will learn something while browsing.
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2005
ISBN: 978-1-5963-6022-8
Page Count: -
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 23, 2010
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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