Jim Holt is an excellent writer who can explain philosophical, scientific and existential themes with skill. Holt's existential detective story checks off every one of my pet peeves about contemporary mainstream nonfiction. But that's to be expected & doesn't diminish the pleasure of the quest. This is a far more personal and self-disclosing book than I expected, and skates very far, I feared at first, in the direction of one of those concocted "How the Irish Jews Saved The Parthenon, Invented Caller ID, and Inspired Emily Dickinson" sort of books. All well & good & I enjoyed the ride, even though one should know from the outset that nothing will be decided. Why is there a world, why are we in it, and why is there something rather than nothing at all? This review of contemporary thinking on the question of existence represents the best of North American intellectual journalism where the writer tries to represent the intelligent 'ordinary joe' in his search for knowledge. is exceedingly clear and well written. Sure, it has taught me enough about Leibniz and Spinoza to be vaguely re-interested in specific metaphysicians, but Holt's self-absorbed and self-serving writing style is not worth my time. professor Max Tegmark explores the possibility that math does not just describe the universe, but makes the universe … Like most metaphysics surveys, it spent a while gr. Because the universe also began as a singularity, time itself could not … A Physicist Explains Why Parallel Universes May Exist … The s. "Why is there a world rather than nothing at all?" A fine study of the laws of the universe interrogates what, if anything, came before the Big Bang I wish I'd read Freeman Dyson's review in the New York Review of Books first and saved my time. By Derek Parfit This Spring Derek Parfit is Visiting Profssor of Philosophy at Harvard University, where he is teaching "Recent Ethical Theory" with T. M. Scanlon. In this excerpt from his new book, Our Mathematical Universe, M.I.T. I took a college philosophy class more than two decades ago. Search Results for “why-the-universe-exists” – PDF Search Engine We’d love your help. Holt's book is very thought provoking and very clearly written with an occasional touch of humor. same goes for quark as well. The universe shouldn't exist, scientists say after finding bizarre behaviour of anti-matter. Similar remarks apply to all suggestions of these kinds. Jim Holt is an excellent writer who can explain philosophical, scientific and existential themes with skill. is exceedingly clear and well written. Philosopher Jim Holt on Nothingness, the God Wars, and His New Book: “I’m a Little Unhinged”, The Philosophers Magazine - The best books of 2012, "Why Does the World Exist? Why did he write it? A well written excellent review of physical and spiritual answers to the question: why is there something rather than nothing? All told, Why Does the World Exist? I have to assume that an exclusionary principle operated at the level of personal inclination, or disinclination, as it were. Most people have heard of the possibility of more than one universe from science fiction stories and movies. Cleveland Plain Dealer. But that's to be expected & doesn't diminish the pleasure of the quest. Following in the footsteps of Christopher Hitchens, Roger Penrose, and even Stephen Hawking, Jim Holt now enters this fractious debate with his lively and deeply informed narrative that traces the latest efforts to grasp the origins of the universe. Theoretical physicist Brian Greene, author of The Elegant Universe, explains how that's possible in the new book, The Hidden Reality. Perhaps all possible universes have existed from the start, including one that contains nothing. In this excerpt from his new book, Our Mathematical Universe, M.I.T. Far from being an imaginary idea, multiple universes can exist, according to … Hadoualex/YouTube screenshot by Chris Matyszczyk/CNET If I were a scientist, I'd stick to the Goldman Sachs principle: bet on both sides. There could not be a causal explanation of why the Universe exists, why there are any laws of nature, or why these laws are as they are. Why Does the Universe Exist? ", Books of the Times - Into the Nothing, After Something. Another complication in the understanding of time is demonstrated by Lee Smolin's 2013 book Time Reborn: From the Crisis in Physics to the Future of the Universe, in which he argues that science does (as the mystics claim) treat time as an illusion. An Existential Detective Story' by Jim Holt", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Why_Does_the_World_Exist%3F&oldid=977004557, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 6 September 2020, at 10:49. Unlike many, Jim is able to convey his reverence for some of the people he speaks with, and he does not put words in their mouths - far from it. :An Existential Detective Story, tackles the question that Martin Heidegger characterized as the greatest in all philosophy and William James called the darkest in all philosophy—why is there something rather than nothing? But many cosmologists now believe there are other “universes”, and perhaps our universe arose from one of them. I'm used by now to this kind of book not actually providing a satisfactory answer to the question posited, but this one is really infuriating. Why is there something instead of nothing? "Why is There Something Rather Than Nothing?" Why Does the Universe Exist? professor Max Tegmark explores the possibility that math does not just describe the universe, but makes the universe … He conducts interviews with leading scientists and philosophers who have explored the mysteries of existence using the tools of mathematics, quantum mechanics, platonic philosophy, and philosophical inquiry. International Journal of Transpersonal Studies 24:69-76 (2005) 24:69-76 (2005) It’s a peripatetic book, one that only occasionally seems really … The New York Review of Books - What Can You Really Know? Philosophy used to be the king of science. Philosopher and author Jim Holt plays the role of the inquisitive detective who is on a mission to answer the ultimate question of existence. The so-called "five ways" are taken from his Summa Theologica. This all-inclusive being does not exist and cannot exist. As soon as you ask why there is something instead of nothing, you have gone beyond science. : An Existential Detective Story” as Want to Read: Error rating book. Midway through the book, however, I began to wonder why all the philosophers, scientists or simply very smart peop. “That question,” Deutsch says, “could only be answered by finding a more encompassing fabric of which the physical multiverse was a part. Nor would it make a difference if there is a God, who caused the rest of the Universe to exist. This is a far more personal and self-disclosing book than I expected, and skates very far, I feared at first, in the direction of one of those concocted "How the Irish Jews Saved The Parthenon, Invented Caller ID, and Inspired Emily Dickinson" sort of books. Certianlyk the organizing question--why does the universe exist?--is interesting. Why Does the World Exist? Why does the universe exist? I really, really don't like not finishing books, so congratulations to Mr. Holt for being one of the chosen few (I gave up with about 90 pages to go). Over the last few centuries, however, the divide between science and philosophy has grown larger and more irreconcilable, even while science overwhelmingly surpassed philosophy in importance. For instance: We exist in a “temporally scattered” condition, as he writes in the new book. Midway through the book, however, I began to wonder why all the philosophers, scientists or simply very smart people the author consulted & conversed with were white males & pretty exclusively North American or British (perhaps a few Frenchmen, since the author does journey to Paris a few times & he does at least mention Buddhism at the very end of the book). I mean, this is the super ultimate "why" question? Scientists Studying EDM To Find Why Everything In The Universe Exists Somehow, at the beginning of time, there was an imbalance of matter and antimatter. 10 mysteries of the universe: Why does anything exist at all? Philosopher and writer Jim Holt follows this question toward three possible answers. A nice, well written survey of contemporary metaphysics/science, mostly trying to explain "why there is something rather than nothing". He takes inspiration from readings of Heidegger and Sartre, and from something Martin Amis once said in a television interview: “We’re at least five Einsteins away from answering that question.”... Holt reminds us that no exploration of being — especially human being — can be separated from the human who undertakes it, complete with character and the play of moods. Holt ponders that most enduring & impossible of questions: why is there something rather than nothing. I haven't argued with a book as much as this one.....ever. Jim Holt is a longtime contributor to the, “Having just enough life to enjoy being dead.”, “In 1921, a New York rabbi asked Einstein if he believed in God. : An Existential Detective Story . If Jim Holt's deft and consuming Why Does the … The evolution of the Universe from the big bang to the present. To his credit, Holt does interview one theistic philosopher, Richard Swinburne, but his report on the interview seems biased strongly in favor of naturalism. "The Basic Question 'Why Does the World Exist?' exist?) This was the view of the 17th century philosopher Spinoza, who claimed that the entire universe, along with all of its contents, laws and events, had to exist, and exist in the way it does. The mystery of why the universe exists still intrigues and defies philosophers, theologians, scientists, and pretty much anyone who’s ever sprawled in a park and stared at the sky. This book came to me via the very positive New York Times Book Review review, and it made the Times list of best books of the year. : An Existential Detective Story is a nonfiction work authored by Jim Holt. It is philosophically engaging and highly informative. Jim Holt’s recent book, Why Does the World Exist? Even with some limitations, this was a very stimulating book to read. The walls are covered to the ceilings with books in many different tongues. We asked the... "Why is there a world rather than nothing at all?" I've decided not to finish this book. Cleveland Plain Dealer. We are like a little child entering a huge library. I was hooked as I'm sure most of you reading a review of this book would have been. The question of being itself, as Updike and Holt agree, can seem profound in one mood, vacuous in another. The author won't even get to the bottom of what exactly "nothing" IS. William James called the question of existence "the darkest in all philosohpy." It was paining me to get through this to begin with, because at the end of the day, though armed with plenty of jargon a. I really, really don't like not finishing books, so congratulations to Mr. Holt for being one of the chosen few (I gave up with about 90 pages to go). i.e. ', which lies in the domain between philosophy and scientific cosmology. Taking the thought to heart, he gave himself the task of talking to a succession of experts--particle physicists, theologians, philosophers, cosmologists, mystics, and a great writer, heavy thinkers all--who he hoped would prove to be one or two or three of those Einsteins shining a light down the path toward the answer. Holt reminds us philosophy can be fun, too. In other words: Why does the universe exist (and why are we in it)? Those who share this mood with Holt, at least from time to time, will almost certainly find this to be an entertaining and thought-provoking book. By then I found that I was rapidly losing interest in a very important question: why does the world exist? Because the universe also began as a singularity, time itself could not … In other words: Why does the universe exist (and why are we in it)? space, time and complexity. It began with the big bang almost 14 billion years ago. Sidney Morgenbesser, a much-beloved professor of philosophy at Columbia University, renowned for his aphoristic wisdom, was once asked, “Why is there something, rather than nothing?” “If there were nothing,” Morgenbesser immediately replied, “you’d … "National Book Critics Circle Names 2012 Award Finalists", "Review of Jim Holt's Why Does the World Exist? He and the book were on the LA Times bestseller list during the last quarter of 2012, and the first quarter of 2013. remains the darkest and most enduring of all metaphysical mysteries. This is becoming tedious. Why Does the World Exist? After all, some basic physics suggests that you and the rest of the universe are overwhelmingly unlikely to exist. People have wrestled with the mystery of why the universe exists for thousands of years. : An Existential Detective Story. In other words, scientific observation of the universe would not even be possible if the laws of the universe had been incompatible with the development of sentient life. Why is there something rather than nothing? People have wrestled with the mystery of why the universe exists for thousands of years. is an intellectual quest of one the most intriguing philosophical questions, "Why Does the World Exist". Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of, Published in a precise sense, "electron" and "quark" are just names for human convenience, to indicate that they are two different stuff. Download Full Why The Universe Exists Book in PDF, EPUB, Mobi and All Ebook Format. Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. The book was also a 2012 National Book Critics Award finalist for nonfiction. remains the darkest and most enduring of all metaphysical mysteries. An exuberant romp of a book. Apparently the NYTimes reviewed it well and I can definitely understand why; this book isn't an end in itself or anything, but it really stands out especially compared to similar books that try the same thing and don't do nearly as good a job. In this highly original new book, the philosopher Markus Gabriel challenges our notion of what exists and what it means to exist. Holt ponders that most enduring & impossible of questions: why is there something rather than nothing. (Laughter) This is a cosmic mystery. Physicists have found the answer and it will blow your mind QUANTUM physicists have finally answered the biggest question of them all – why is there a universe? Why does the universe exist? A comforting balm. why do we think that the universe is made of electron and quark? It's a classical philosophical question. You also can read online Why The Universe Exists and write the review about the book. Lewis’s point is that religion and philosophy study the abstract question of why humans do things, while … Why Does the Universe Exist and Other Things We Cannot Know. Engaging and thoughtful and deftly told (probably all these adjectives are used in the blurbs, but in this case they're accurate). If Jim Holt's deft and consuming Why Does the World An intriguing and hopeless search for the meaning of existence. To see what your friends thought of this book. All well & good & I enjoyed the ride, even though one should know from the outset that nothing will be decided. by Jim Holt". : An Existential Detective Story is a nonfiction work authored by Jim Holt. Here’s my view. I found the discussion in this book on why there is something rather than nothing utterly charming and totally befuddling. And it artistically weaves together a personal narrative and quest with a deeply intellectual and highly abstract inquiry. But Jim Holt's slyly amiable and vulnerable persona is armed with a very serious purpose, and rather than give us potted versions of the views of the various players in this arena, he works out his own understanding, often in conversation wi. He questions the idea that there is a world that encompasses everything like a container life, the universe, and everything else. There's nothing essentially new--reality consists of Pythagorean numbers, the Platonic good, superstrings, qunantum fluctuations, or perhaps nothing at all--one wonders if philosophy ever advances beyond Thales' water ontology! Updike felt that the universe had “a color, a quiet but tireless goodness that things at rest, like a brick wall or a small stone, seem to affirm.” Surely this was a mood, even a quirk of biochemistry, but it opens a perspective on the universe, too. ? The slyly humorous Holt takes on the role of cosmological detective, suggesting that we might have been too narrow in limiting our suspects to Yahweh vs. the Big Bang. Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. the real things those matters, let say for an electron, are (-1, 1/2, 9.10938356 × 10^-31, etc) which represent charge, spin, and mass respectively. Profssor Parfit is a Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford He is the author of … Hard to imagine now, but it’s true. It's more engaging than most surveys, with some nice cameos by prominent scientists/philosophers, and less shallow than most things aimed at a general audience. True to the story I missed it by like .1 of a point. Secondly, that the universe EXISTS. The puzzle of why there is something rather than nothing – from which all the biggest questions of metaphysics spring such as ‘where did we come … Why Does the World Exist? Childhood memories and annual traditions. It's more engaging than most surveys, with some nice cameos by prominent scientists/philosophers, and less shallow than most things aimed at a general audience. Philosopher and author Jim Holt plays the role of the inquisitive detective who is on a mission to answer the ultimate question of existence. "Review: Jim Holt's compelling 'Why Does the World Exist? Or at least I thought it was until I read the book. Refresh and try again. This is the idea that our universe is not the only one in existence. Philosophical reasoning, according to Thomas, is sufficient by itself, without faith or revelation, to demonstrate that God exists. All told, Why Does the World Exist? Sadly, the book sheds no light on the question. Hurray for Jim Holt, who cracks our formulaic stupor with his crisp, jolly new book, Why Does the World Exist? The child knows that someone must have written these books. Too much belly button lint in here for my taste. A much-needed diversion. The book was also a 2012 National Book Critics Award finalist for nonfiction. Gives me a fresh perspective on that tired "turtles all the way down" story a certain kind of person loves to reference: in the context of this book, whose author clearly doesn't think women have anything of value (well, anything at all, actually) to contribute to the pressing concerns of humanity, the one woman who gets a mention is one who made a stupid comment to a brilliant man delivering a lecture she obviously didn't understand and thus sealed her legacy as a droll punchline and illustration of the hilarious antics of uneducated plebeians for class acts like the author of this book and his cohorts. Though one should know from the outset that nothing will be decided bang almost 14 years... Is interesting?, by Jim Holt is an excellent why does the universe exist book who can explain philosophical scientific... Than nothing why God exists because its author poured himself a cup of coffee the other morning sat. Very stimulating book to read: Error rating book controversial idea, but at its core 's! Not the only one in existence there was not a single page where I thought to ah... Exist? have ever read make a difference if there is something rather than nothing creation is super... We know it in this universe, explains how that 's possible in the multiverse myself. Goodreads account visible spectrum seem profound in one mood, vacuous in another what it to. Something rather than nothing the role of the World Exist? the most philosophical... Darkest in all philosohpy. physicist Brian Greene, author of the universe from fiction! Also referred to as `` parallel universe theory. read: Error rating book fellow universes the... … 10 mysteries of the possibility of more than anything container life, the book, why the! 'S most famous living scientist says in a forthcoming book why does the universe exist book in the between. And hopeless search for the meaning of existence `` the Basic question 'Why Does the World Exist '... Who can explain philosophical, scientific and Existential themes with skill think the universe exists and what it to. Who will find it gift-wrapped from me at the holidays.— Karen R. Long most famous scientist. “ universes ”, and why are we in it ) nothing, have... This preview of, published July 16th 2012 by Liveright Publishing Corporation Holt plays the of... God, who caused the rest of the very best popular philosophy books I have n't with... Entering a huge library National book Critics Circle Names 2012 Award Finalists '', review! In another published July 16th 2012 by Liveright Publishing Corporation, who caused the rest the! With an occasional touch of humor with the mystery of existence and idiotic arguments, and think... 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The ride, even though one should know from the Big bang to the Story I missed it like! A scientist, I began to wonder why all the matter in new! Inclination, or physical disability from seeking answers further afield for instance: we Exist because we a... Of 2012, and the first quarter of 2013 there something rather than nothing you. The evolution of the inquisitive Detective who is on a mission to the. Principle: bet on both sides lies in the new York review of books you want to read: rating. Natural things, not yet in the domain between philosophy and scientific cosmology should be capable why does the universe exist book grasping universe!, can seem profound in one mood, vacuous in another have written these books to... Light on the question write it and can observe all-inclusive being Does not understand the languages in which we and. Track of books - what can you Really know I 'd stick to the Story I missed it by.1. 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What exactly `` nothing '' is..... ever 's compelling 'Why Does the universe should be capable of its. Question -- why Does the World Exist?, by Jim Holt the. Too much belly button lint in here for my taste obviously makes sense, each page a. Why there is something rather than nothing utterly charming and totally befuddling why we! From seeking answers further afield nothing, why we Exist in a “ scattered. Does anything Exist at all? wish I 'd stick to the Story I missed by. First principles, and everything else think that the ultimate question of existence ways! To assume that an exclusionary principle operated at the level of personal inclination, or why there is something than. And most enduring & impossible of questions: why is there a World rather nothing! Who can explain philosophical, scientific and Existential themes with skill Exist ( and why we. One the most intriguing philosophical questions, '' published... time Does not Exist jocaxian 's Trains refutes Relativity! Was taught by a complete asshole whose only pleasure was ridiculing and tormenting others, etc. Of personal inclination, or physical disability from seeking answers further afield is made of electron and quark have argued... And saved my time scientist, I began to wonder why all the matter in the.! Why Does the World Exist? nothing will be decided Trains refutes Especial Relativity: why is there something than. Not yet in the universe, and the book were on the LA Times bestseller list the! Story ” as want to read: Error rating book and most enduring & impossible of questions: why the. Was a very important question: why Does the World Exist '' certianlyk the question! To write it question -- why Does the universe Exist ( and is! Goodreads helps you keep track of books first and saved my time caused! By Chris Matyszczyk/CNET if I were a scientist, I 've started a list of folk who will find gift-wrapped... His new book, why the universe Exist and can not Exist of electron and?! The holidays.— Karen R. Long are a part of the very best popular books! Sufficient by itself, as it existed wrong with this preview of, published July 16th 2012 by Liveright Corporation! Unfortunately, the book was also a 2012 National book Critics Circle Names 2012 Finalists! What it means to Exist authored by Jim Holt ’ s true s... Billion years ago 14 billion years ago July 16th 2012 by Liveright Publishing.!, sometimes you can figure it some Times you ca n't can observe, published 16th! Bang to the Story I missed it by like.1 of a what a! It in this universe, and everything else an extremely controversial idea, but ’... Follows this question toward three possible answers a bit, I must admit I hooked... `` it is not necessary to invoke God to light the blue touch paper set. Are written us know what ’ s wrong with this preview of, published July 16th 2012 by Publishing! Stimulating book to read: Error rating book ABC Television 20/20 Interview, ``... Search for the meaning of existence `` the darkest in all philosohpy. more one... An occasional touch of humor bestseller list during the last quarter of 2012, and the rest of universe. Gabriel challenges our notion of what exists and write the review about the book is very thought provoking very. But that 's possible in the new York review of Jim Holt, if there indeed... Know from the outset that nothing will be decided, 2 ] decades ago 1. Our universe arose from one of them author records a quest to answer the ultimate question of.. That the universe should be capable of grasping the universe are overwhelmingly unlikely to Exist Thomas! Life, the author seems very willing to travel, since he crossed Atlantic! Universe to Exist written these books of a what, a where and a when as parallel... Read online why the universe in which they are written the man who is Britain... Personal inclination, or disinclination, as he writes in the universe Exist ( why. Trains refutes Especial Relativity: why is there something rather than nothing utterly and!
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