The Cosmic Blueprint, Paul Davies
The Cosmic Blueprint, Paul Davies
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The Cosmic Blueprint
New Discoveries in Nature's Creative Ability to Order the Universe

Author: Paul Davies

Narrator: David Colacci

Unabridged: 9 hr 9 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 09/07/2010


Synopsis

In the preface to the 2004 edition, Paul Davies writes, "If the laws of the universe really are a sort of cosmic blueprint, as I suggest, they may also be a blueprint for survival." This critically acclaimed book explains how recent scientific advances are transforming our understanding of the emergence of complexity and organization in the universe. Melding a variety of ideas and disiplines from biology, fundamental physics, computer science, mathematics, genetics, and neurology, Davies presents his provocative theory on the source of the universe's creative potency. He explores the new paradigm (replacing the centuries-old Newtonian view of the universe) that recognizes the collective and holistic properties of physical systems and the power of self-organization. He casts the laws in physics in the role of a "blueprint", embodying a grand cosmic scheme that progressively unfolds as the universe develops. Challenging the viewpoint that the physical universe is a meaningless collection of particles, he finds overwhelming evidence for an underlying purpose: "Science may explain all the processes whereby the universe evolves its own destiny, but that still leaves room for there to be a meaning behind existence."This book is published by Templeton Press.

About Paul Davies

Paul Davies is an internationally acclaimed physicist, cosmologist, and astrobiologist at Arizona State University, where he runs the pioneering Beyond Center for Fundamental Concepts in Science. He also chairs SETI's Post-Detection Taskgroup, so if scientists succeed in finding intelligent life, he will be among the first to know. In addition to his many scientific awards, Davies is the recipient of the 1995 Templeton Prize-the world's largest annual prize-for his work on science and religion. He is the author of more than twenty books, including The Mind of God, About Time, How to Build a Time Machine, and The Goldilocks Enigma. The asteroid 1992OG was officially renamed Pauldavies in his honor.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Gary

The Good, 1) Davies explains physics and philosophy better than any one, 2) The chapter on entropy is one of the best I've ever heard, 3) The philosophy of the approaches to science from atomism, reductionism and the teleologic of Aristotle is explained in accessible ways for the non-philosopher and ar......more

Goodreads review by Peter

Very interesting read that challenges neo-darwinism and argues that there are laws of increasing complexity in nature that are independent from yet complement Newtonian physics and natural selection in the evolution of matter and life. Some of it was over my head and some of it I need to reread. The......more

Goodreads review by Kinch

This a ...not-bad book. It's frustrating because there are some really interesting ideas in here, but the book is poorly structured and Davies' writing style is pretty soporific. Whereas someone like Oliver Sacks brings new and difficult ideas to life and make them a joy to discover, Davies seems to......more

Goodreads review by Robbe

Heel interessant boek veel fascinerend voorbeelden van complexe organisatie binnen ons heelal. Heeft mij mijn reductionistische visie over bepaalde verschijnselen toch wat doen bijstellen......more