Information and the Nature of Reality
From Physics to Metaphysics
Published on 23. September 2010
Book
Hardback
400 pages
978-0-521-76225-0 (ISBN)
Description
Many scientists regard mass and energy as the primary currency of nature. In recent years, however, the concept of information has gained importance. Why? In this book, eminent scientists, philosophers and theologians chart various aspects of information, from quantum information to biological and digital information, in order to understand how nature works. Beginning with an historical treatment of the topic, the book also examines physical and biological approaches to information, and its philosophical, theological and ethical implications.
Reviews / Votes
'This is the anthology we have been waiting for ... seminal papers deal with matter through the history of Greek thought, seventeenth-century materialism and twentieth-century dematerialism, the need for a new scientific world view in the light of the quantum nature of the universe, and the storage and transmission of information in biological systems with the new knowledge of their genomes and development ... Philosophers, theologians and scientists all have their say, wrestling with the theme of God as the ultimate informational and structuring principle in the universe.' Professor Sir Brian Heap, President, European Academies Science Advisory Board, German Academy of Sciences '... Davies is without a doubt one of the best popular-science writers in the world ... if you want to know more about this novel take on reality, then I highly recommend Davies and Gregersen's erudite and entertaining collection.' Vlatko Vedral, Physics WorldMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
Cambridge
United Kingdom
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Illustrations
5 Halftones, black and white
Dimensions
Height: 235 mm
Width: 160 mm
Thickness: 27 mm
Weight
710 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-521-76225-0 (9780521762250)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
New editions
Paul Davies | Niels Henrik Gregersen
Information and the Nature of Reality
From Physics to Metaphysics
Book
05/2014
Cambridge University Press
€34.70
Shipment within 15-20 days
Additional editions
Paul Davies | Niels Henrik Gregersen
Information and the Nature of Reality
From Physics to Metaphysics
E-Book
04/2014
1st Edition
Cambridge University Press
€15.99
Available for download
Paul Davies | Niels Henrik Gregersen
Information and the Nature of Reality
From Physics to Metaphysics
E-Book
12/2010
1st Edition
Cambridge University Press
€26.49
Available for download
E-Book
09/2010
1st Edition
Cambridge University Press
€21.99
Available for download
Persons
Paul Davies is Director of the Beyond Center for Fundamental Concepts in Science and Co-Director of the Cosmology Initiative, both at Arizona State University. He is a passionate science communicator, and has won several awards for his work, including the 2002 Michael Faraday Prize from the Royal Society for promoting science to the public. Niels Henrik Gregersen is Professor of Systematic Theology and Co-Director of the Centre of Naturalism and Christian Semantics, both at the University of Copenhagen. He has won several international research awards, including one from the John Templeton Foundation for work on the constructive interface between science and religion.
Content
1. Introduction: does information matter?; Paul Davies and Niels Henrik Gregersen; Part I. History: 2. From matter to materialism ... and (almost) back Ernan McMullin; 3. Unsolved dilemmas: the concept of matter in the history of philosophy and in contemporary physics Philip Clayton; Part II. Physics: 4. Universe from bit Paul Davies; 5. The computational universe Seth Lloyd; 6. Minds and values in the quantum universe Henry Pierce Stapp; Part III. Biology: 7. The concept of information in biology John Maynard Smith; 8. Levels of information: Shannon-Bolzmann-Darwin Terrence W. Deacon; 9. Information and communication in living matter Bernd-Olaf Kueppers; 10. Semiotic freedom: an emerging force Jesper Hoffmeyer; 11. Care on earth: generating informed concern Holmes Rolston; Part IV. Philosophy and Theology: 12. The sciences of complexity - a new theological resource? Arthur Peacocke; 13. God as the ultimate informational principle Keith Ward; 14. Information, theology and the universe John F. Haught; 15. God, matter, and information: towards a Stoicizing Logos christology Niels Henrik Gregersen; 16. What is the 'spiritual body'? Michael Welker; Index.