Between Inner Space and Outer Space Essays on Science, Art, and Philosophy

by Barrow, John D.

• ISBN13: 9780198502548
• ISBN10: 0198502540
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1999-05-20
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

An invigorating tour of topics that brings together dozens of essays that offer a sweeping account of the author's explorations about science, philosophy, and religion. 34 line illustrations.

Author Biography

John D. Barrow is Professor of Astronomy at the University of Sussex. Among his many popular books on science are Impossibility, Pi in the Sky, Theories of Everything, and The Origin of the Universe. He lives in Sussex, England.

Table of Contents

PART 1 The popularisation of science	1	(14)
1 As Well as science what do you know?	3	(3)
2 In the world's image	6	(5)
3 Falling between two cultures	11	(4)
PART 2 Life in the Universe	15	(40)
4 Anthropic principles in cosmology	19	(12)
5 Sizing up the Universe	31	(11)
6 Are there any laws of physics?	42	(5)
7 Long-distance calls	47	(3)
8 The truth is in the choosing	50	(5)
PART 3 Theories of everything--even gravity	55	(28)
9 Theories of everything	57	(9)
10 Limits of science	66	(10)
11 Of the utmost gravity	76	(2)
12 Getting it together	78	(5)
PART 4 Mathematics	83	(26)
13 Why is the Universe mathematical?	85	(14)
14 It's all Platonic pi in the sky	99	(3)
15 Counter culture	102	(4)
16 Rational vote doomed	106	(3)
PART 5 Simplicity and complexity	109	(30)
17 Complexity	111	(3)
18 Where the wild things are	114	(3)
19 Patterns emerging from a complex world	117	(3)
20 Chance and determinism	120	(6)
21 Outlook moderate to fair; winds, changeable	126	(2)
22 Why is the world comprehensible?	128	(11)
PART 6 Aesthetics	139	(18)
23 Survival of the artiest	142	(5)
24 Musical cheers and the beautiful noise	147	(5)
25 Stars in their ancient eyes	152	(5)
PART 7 Time	157	(26)
26 Cosmological time	161	(15)
27 Universe began in no time at all	176	(3)
28 Arrows and some banana skins	179	(4)
PART 8 Quantum reality	183	(24)
29 In the best of all possible worlds	187	(6)
30 Great Dane	193	(6)
31 Complementary concepts	199	(3)
32 Much ado about nothing	202	(5)
Part 9: Religion and science	207	(20)
33 Doubting castles in the air	211	(5)
34 Immortal, invisible...not really there?	216	(3)
35 Accepting Pascal's wager	219	(3)
36 Getting something from nothing	222	(5)
Part 10: Cosmology	227	(42)
37 An explosion into time and space	231	(6)
38 What COBE saw	237	(4)
39 Is the Universe open or closed?	241	(7)
40 The origin of the Universe	248	(12)
41 Battle of the giants	260	(3)
42 They came from inner space	263	(6)
Index	269