Explores the concept of nothingness, from the origins of zero in ancient india to attempts by modern mathematics, cosmology, theology, and physics to explain the role of nothing in the structure of the universe. The void, 0, or the vacuum were and are hotly debated and discussed topics in the study of mathematics and science. Barrow takes the most perplexing of everyday phenomenafrom the odds of winning the lottery and the method of determining batting averages to the shapes of roller coasters and the reasoning behind the fairest possible divorce settlementsand explains why things work the way they do. Barrow, barrow explores the real story behind zero. Barrow 2002 vintage books, 384 pages one of the most stunning revelations in any scientific field in the last halfcentury came in 1998. Consciousness is notmatter and by the same token escapes all. Rooted in the paradoxrich soil of philosophy and religion, the concept of nothing has blossomed into many strange ideas, and. Open library is an open, editable library catalog, building towards a web page for every book ever published. Being and nothingness that sartre revealed himself as a master of outstanding talent. Many have praised the book s central notion that existence precedes essence, its introduction of the concept of bad faith, and its exploration of. Barrow one of our most elegant and accomplished science writersargues convincingly that there are limits to human discovery, that there are things that are ultimately unknowable, undoable, or unreachable.
The book of nothing is stuffed with wonderful stories. Barrow ebooks to read online or download in pdf or epub on your pc, tablet or mobile device. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Rooted in the paradoxrich soil of philosophy and religion, the concept of nothing has blossomed into many strange ideas, and apparently barrow is familiar with all of them. Zero the biography of a dangerous idea by charles seife.
Contrary to the unfailing scepticism of his offspring, barrow has written a fascinating and up to page 173 compelling book about nothing. Descricao the book of nothing from the zeros of the mathematician to the void of the philosophers, from shakespeare to the empty set, from the ether to the quantum vacuum, from being and nothingness to creatio ex nihilo, there is much ado about nothing at the heart of things. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the book of nothing. Barrow first examines the limits of the human mind. A philosophical classic and major cornerstone of modern existentialism often criticized and alltoorarely understood, the philosophy of jeanpaul sartre encompasses the dilemmas and aspirations of the individual in contemporary society. But as john barrow reveals in this timely and important book, new discoveries in science have shown that these scholars were right to suspect that nothing has. A writer named jeanpaul sartre sees his latest philosophical manuscript, being and nothingness, a phenomenological essay on ontology, 722 pages of fine. We will find that the concept of nothingness that developed in each arena merely to fill some sort of gap then took on a life of its own and found. From the zeros of the mathematician to the void of the philosophers, from shakespeare tot he empty set, from the ether to the quantum vacuum, from being and nothingness to creatio ex nihilo, there is much ado about nothing at the heart of things. Being and nothingness project gutenberg selfpublishing. What conceptual blind spot kept the ancient greeks unlike the indians and maya from developing a concept of zero. Youll find the answers in this dizzyingly erudite and elegantly explained book by the english cosmologist john d. Aug, 2002 youll find the answers in this dizzyingly erudite and elegantly explained book by the english cosmologist john d. Being and nothingnesscontains all the basic tenets of his thought, as well as all its more intricate details.
The book of nothing by john d barrow the independent. Being and nothingness is regarded as both the most important nonfiction expression of sartres existentialism and his most influential philosophical work, original despite its debt to heidegger. Ranging through mathematics, theology, philosophy, literature, particle physics, and cosmology, the book of nothing explores the enduring hold that vacuity has exercised on the human imagination. John barrow examines and explains every aspect of nothingness. In 1943, these themes were given largescale, systematic philosophical expression with the publication of being and nothingness. Barrow 2002 vintage books, 384 pages one of the most stunning revelations in any scientific field in the last halfcentury came in 1998, when saul perlmutter, brian p. In the book, sartre develops a philosophical account in support of his existentialism, dealing with topics such as consciousness. Vacuums, voids, and the latest ideas about the origins of the universe by john d. Vacuums, voids, and the latest ideas about the origins of the universe 2000 how nothing became something nothing. The artful universe expanded by author john barrow. Other articles where being and nothingness is discussed. His treatment of the history of zero number theory and the concept of zeropoint energy of vacuum space physics and cosmology is informative and nicely written.
The paperback of the the book of nothing by john d. Beginning with ancient civilizations, he explores how the zero came into being, its rocky reception in europe, and the early avoidance and. Barrow the bodley head london by the same author theories of everything the left hand of creation with joseph silk lhomme et le cosmos. Here he turns to some of the most difficult of all, at least insofar as lesser minds can grasp. John barrows work is truly nifty and represents wellresearched and designed material, that can stand on its own. Ranging through mathematics, theology, philosophy, literature, particle physics, and cosmology, the book of nothing explores the enduring hold that. About half of this book discusses the cutting edge of physics with the necessary history regarding the fate of the universe, and in particular, how vacuum nothingness in its modern quantum understanding plays a central role in the universes evolution and ultimate future. The book of the universes ustav teoreticke fyziky mff uk. Jeanpaul sartre, the seminal smartypants of midcentury thinking, launched the existentialist fleet with the publication of being and nothingness in 1943. An essay on phenomenological ontology, sometimes subtitled a phenomenological essay on ontology, is a 1943 book by the philosopher jeanpaul sartre, in which the author asserts the individuals existence as prior to the individuals essence and seeks to demonstrate that free. He delves through ancient nothing is a fascinating concept to us. And because history never seems like history when you are living through it, it is tempting for us to think the same.
Tipler the anthropic cosmological principle with frank j. Barrow, a distinguished scientist and popular science author, is professor of mathematical sciences at the university of cambridge. John barrow provides enjoyably readable explanations for some of the salient issues in number theory, physics and cosmology. Buy being and nothingness book online at low prices in. Barrow begins with conceptions of nothingness from around the world and throughout history. Theres no need for yet another book about the same thing with nothing else to say about it. This remarkable book ranges over every nook and cranny of nothingness to reveal how the human mind has had to make something of nothing in every field of. Letre et le neant, essai dontologie phenomenologique being and nothingness, jeanpaul sartre being and nothingness. Auto suggestions are available once you type at least 3 letters. Jul 05, 2001 buy the book of nothing new ed by barrow, john d.
John d barrow has essentially written a book in two parts, the first is a historical and to a lesser extent philosophical examination on the concept of nothing, and the second part is a cosmological examination of the cosmic vacuum and the inflationary universe. Though the book is thick, dense, and unfriendly to careless readers, it is indispensable to those interested in the philosophy of consciousness and free will. Christine daigle discusses some of the key concepts and ideas in sartres most important philosophical book. All roads are blocked to a philosophy which reduces everything to the word no.
Barrow explains nothing with great clarity, a lovely lightness of touch and enormous erudition spectator. This remarkable book ranges over every nook and cranny of nothingness to reveal how the human mind has had to make something of nothing in every field of human enquiry. History is full of people who thought they were right absolutely right, completely right, without a shadow of a doubt. The book of nothing isbn 9780099288459 pdf epub john d. From the zeros of mathematicians to the void of philosophers, from shakespeare to the null set, from the ether to the quantum vacuum, this book illustrates the fact that nothing is real.
Recent exciting discoveries in astronomy are shown to shed new light on the nature of the vacuum and its dramatic effect upon the explanation of the universe. Sartre places human consciousness, or nothingness neant, in opposition to being, or thingness etre. Barrow is available at in several formats for your ereader. Cambridge mathematician barrow pi in the sky, 1992, etc. There is no such thing as nothingness, and zero does not exist. Barrow the bodley head london by the same author theories of everything the left hand of creation with joseph silk lhomme et le cosmos with frank j. The book of nothing vacuums, voids, and the latest ideas about the origins of the universe by john d. John barrow s work is truly nifty and represents wellresearched and designed material, that can stand on its own.