The Book of Nothing
The Book of Nothing
John D. Barrow
Naval Ravikant
Naval Ravikant tweeted about this book.
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The Book of Nothing

The Book of Nothing: Vacuums, Voids, and the Latest Ideas about the Origins of the Universe

John D. Barrow
By
John D. Barrow
4.0
1191
ratings on Goodreads

In the mesmerizing journey that is "The Book of Nothing," John D. Barrow invites readers to explore the elusive and enigmatic concept of nothingness, a notion that has puzzled philosophers, scientists, and theologians across the ages. From the ancient Greeks, who stumbled at the threshold of zero's discovery, to the quantum physicists of today, who find a buzzing hive of activity in the void, Barrow guides us through the history and mystery of the void. This is not merely a chronicle of scientific endeavor but a voyage across the landscapes of mathematics, theology, and philosophy, illuminated by the minds of Freddy Mercury, Shakespeare, Isaac Newton, Albert Einstein, and Stephen Hawking. Barrow elegantly crafts a narrative that is as intellectually rigorous as it is captivating, revealing how our understanding of nothingness is intrinsically linked to the very fabric of the universe and our place within it. Delving into the paradoxes of the vacuum, "The Book of Nothing" examines the cultural and scientific pathways that have led humanity to grapple with the concept of the void, from St. Augustine's theological battles with the notion of nothingness as the embodiment of evil to the intricate experiments of the 17th century designed to create a vacuum. Barrow's book is a testament to the human spirit's unending quest for knowledge, showcasing how our fascination with nothing has propelled scientific breakthroughs and philosophical inquiries. Through a blend of erudition and accessible writing, Barrow makes the complexities of cosmology, particle physics, and existential philosophy not only understandable but deeply compelling, inviting readers to ponder the profound implications of nothingness in a universe brimming with the infinitely small and the infinitely large.

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Released
2000
1 Jan
Length
384
Pages

1

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Naval Ravikant tweeted about this book.
Turing attended Wittgenstein's lectures on the philosophy of mathematics in Cambridge in 1939 and disagreed strongly with a line of argument that Wittgenstein was pursuing which wanted to allow contradictions to exist in mathematical systems. Wittgenstein argues that he can see why people don't like contradictions outside of mathematics but cannot see what harm they do inside mathematics. Turing is exasperated and points out that such contradictions inside mathematics will lead to disasters outside mathematics: bridges will fall down. Only if there are no applications will the consequences of contradictions be innocuous. Turing eventually gave up attending these lectures. His despair is understandable. The inclusion of just one contradiction (like 0 = 1) in an axiomatic system allows any statement about the objects in the system to be proved true (and also proved false). When Bertrand Russel pointed this out in a lecture he was once challenged by a heckler demanding that he show how the questioner could be proved to be the Pope if 2 + 2 = 5. Russel replied immediately that 'if twice 2 is 5, then 4 is 5, subtract 3; then 1 = 2. But you and the Pope are 2; therefore you and the Pope are 1'! A contradictory statement is the ultimate Trojan horse.
— John D. Barrow, The Book of Nothing

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