The Labyrinth of Reason: Paradoxes, Puzzles, and the Fragility of Knowledge

Author: (American) Paulos
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-05-01
Features: This is a powerful work with astonishing insights in every field it covers. She discusses some important and thought-provoking issues of the 20th century. For many facts we take for granted, the book offers original and fresh perspectives. Paulos's masterpiece is a model of scientific writing, benefiting both experts and laypeople alike. —Los Angeles Times Book Review
This is a creative work that shines with wisdom, revealing profound mysteries hidden behind common sense, evidence, knowledge, and truth. Paulos has an extraordinary narrative talent, turning abstract philosophical speculation into a clear, suspenseful, and engaging intellectual adventure. Every reader concerned with the mysteries of the universe and the mind—whether beginner or expert—will find immense joy in this book. —Douglas Hofstadter (renowned author, author of G?del, Escher, Bach)
In this dazzling masterpiece, Paulos guides us through a labyrinth built of paradoxes, from Sherlock Holmes' puzzles to time travel, from disembodied brains in vats to multiple worlds, from the Library of Atlantis to black holes. It is a delightful journey. —Publishers Weekly
The Labyrinth of Reason collects classic thought experiments and philosophical meditations that touch on the ultimate limits of logical reasoning and language. Paulos shows us that these are not just riddles. Delving into these issues involves fields such as cryptography, decision theory, subatomic physics, and computer programming. However, the most important feature of this book is that it allows readers to enjoy the surprise of intellectual elegance and purity. —Amazon Review
The Labyrinth of Reason collects classic thought experiments and philosophical meditations that touch on the ultimate limits of logical reasoning and language. Paulos's in-depth exploration of these issues, which involves fields such as cryptography, decision theory, subatomic physics, and computer programming, not onlys your mind during this journey of thought but also revolutionizes your way of thinking. This is a powerful work with astonishing insights in every field it covers. She discusses some important and thought-provoking issues of the 20th century. For many facts we take for granted, the book offers original and fresh perspectives. Paulos's masterpiece is a model of scientific writing, benefiting both experts and laypeople alike.