The Meaning of It All

Book Description

Critics

• The Meaning of It All: Thoughts of a Citizen Scientist By Richard P. Feynman

  In April, 1963, one of the most renowned and beloved physicists of all time gave a series of three remarkable lectures at the University of Washington. Now these never-before published-lectures are finally available in book form in The Meaning of It ... (read full critics)

  bookpage published on Sat, 18 Sep 2010

• Is God in the Lab?

  Here are two famous scientists expressing their opinions about science and religion. Richard Feynman gave a series of Danz Lectures at the University of Washington in Seattle in 1963. John Polkinghorne gave a series of Terry Lectures at Yale Universi ... (read full critics)

  nybooks published on Tue, 24 Aug 2010

2 Reviews

• 1 person find this helpful

  

  Not Feynman's best

  This is from a three-night series of lectures in which he talks about science and religion, politics, the unscientifc age, etc. Not bad, but certainly not the most interesting and illuminating Feynman.

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  Greg Sung said on Sep 4, 2006 about the Paperback edition | Add your feedback

• 

  Gran personaggio, ottime idee, libretto striminzito.
  Ecco i passaggi più interessanti:

  "All other aspects and characteristics of science can be understood directly when we understand that observation is the ultimate and final judge of the truth of an idea. [...]
  That is the principle of science ... (continue)

  Gran personaggio, ottime idee, libretto striminzito.
  Ecco i passaggi più interessanti:

  "All other aspects and characteristics of science can be understood directly when we understand that observation is the ultimate and final judge of the truth of an idea. [...]
  That is the principle of science. If there is an exception to any rule, and if it can be proved by observation, that rule is wrong.
  The exceptions to any rule are most interesting in themselves, for they show us that the old rule is wrong. And it is most exciting, then, to find out what the right rule, if any, is.
  The exception is studied, along with other conditions that produce similar effects.
  The scientist tries to find more exceptions and to determine the characteristics of the exceptions, a process that is continually exciting as it develops.
  He does not try to avoid showing that the rules are wrong; there is progress and excitement in the exact opposite.
  He tries to prove himself wrong as quickly as possible. [...]
  Scientists, therefore, are used to dealing with doubt and uncertainty. All scientific knowledge is uncertain. This experience with doubt and uncertainty is important. I believe that it is of very great value, and one that extends beyond the sciences. I believe that to solve any problem that has never been solved before, you have to leave the door to the unknown ajar. You have to permit the possibility that you do not have it exactly right.
  Otherwise, if you have made up your mind already, you might not solve it. [...]
  It is a great adventure to contemplate the universe, beyond man, to contemplate what it would be like without man, as it was in a great part of its long history and as it is in a great majority of places. When this objective view is finally attained, and the mystery and majesty of matter are fully appreciated, to then turn the objective eye back on man viewed as matter, to view life as part of this universal mystery of greatest depth, is to sense an experience which is very rare, and very exciting. It usually ends in laughter and a delight in the futility of trying to understand what this atom in the universe is, this thing—atoms with curiosity—that looks at itself and wonders why it wonders. Well, these scientific views end in awe and mystery, lost at the edge in uncertainty, but they appear to be so deep and so impressive that the theory that it is all arranged as a stage for God to watch man's struggle for good and evil seems inadequate.
  Some will tell me that I have just described a religious experience. Very well, you may call it what you will."

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  Zapp Brannigan said on Jul 25, 2009 about the Paperback edition | Add your feedback

Book Details

• Rating:
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• English Books
• Others 1 Pages
• Edition: MP3 Una
• ISBN-10: 1433201739
• ISBN-13: 9781433201738
• Publisher: Blackstone Audiobooks
• Pub date: Aug 01, 2007
• Also available as: Paperback, Hardcover, Audio CD and Audio Cassette
• In other languages: other languages 繁體書, Libri Italiani

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