Summary: In the Introduction, the authors quote Steven W. Hawkins: "Even if there is only one possible unified theory, it is just a set of rules and equations...However, if we do discover a complete theory, it should in time be understandable in broad principle by everyone, not just a few scientists....[We can then] take part in the discussion of of the questions of why it is that we and universe exist. If we find the answer to that, it would be the ultimate triumph of human reason reason -- for then we would know the mind of God."
This book was written for the reasonably intelligent non-scientist who shares the authors' curiosity about matters such as these:
• Over the centuries, why have so many great minds attempted to formulate a "unification theory" which accommodates the totality of what is known about the universe?
• As a results of such efforts, what have been the major breakthroughs in understanding the universe? For example, what are the specific contributions of the ancient Greeks, Galileo, Descartes, Newton, Faraday, Maxwell, and Einstein?
The authors observe: "Our purpose here is to focus on the state of physics, for that is where the search for unity is currently being pursued the most actively and has been rewarded with the greatest achievements in the realms of both the infinitely large and the infinitesimally small." In all probability, this book will not be of great interest to everyone. I recommend it highly to the aforementioned "reasonably intelligent non-scientist" who is curious to learn more about the evolution of intellectual history, and especially the evolution of the history of science during which physics has played such an important part. |
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