Book Description

The pioneering work of Edwin T. Jaynes in the field of statistical physics, quantum optics, and probability theory has had a significant and lasting effect on the study of many physical problems, ranging from fundamental theoretical questions through to practical applications such as optical image restoration. Physics and Probability is a collection of papers in these areas by some of his many colleagues and former students, based largely on lectures given at a symposium celebrating Jaynes' contributions, on the occasion of his seventieth birthday and retirement as Wayman Crow Professor of Physics at Washington University. The collection contains several authoritative overviews of current research on maximum entropy and quantum optics, where Jaynes' work has been particularly influential, as well as reports on a number of related topics. In the concluding paper, Jaynes looks back over his career, and gives encouragement and sound advice to young scientists. All those engaged in research on any of the topics discussed in these papers will find this a useful and fascinating collection, and a fitting tribute to an outstanding and innovative scientist. ... Read more

Book Description

Speeches from the 1880s form chapters on Priestly, medicine, science, culture, education, and more.Includes " On the Educational Value of the Natural History Sciences," (1854), " Emancipation-Black and White," (1865), " A Liberal Education and Where to Find It," (1868), Science and Culture (1880), "Address on University Education" [1876] delivered at the opening of Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore; "On Medical Education," delivered to the students of the Faculty of Medicine, University College, London; and the "Connection of the Biological Sciences with Medicine" [1881], given at the International Medical Congress. ... Read more

Book Description

Originally published in 1896, with chapters on: Evolution and Ethics: Prologomena (1894) Evolution and Ethics (1893) Science and Morals (1886) Capital - The Mother of Labor (1890) Social Diseases and Worse Remedies (1891).

The latter chapter includes: Struggle for Existence in Human Society, Letters to the Times, Legal Opinions, and The Articles of War of the Salvation Army. This section discusses William Booth (the founder of the Salvation Army) and his views extensively, along with evolutionary principles and views toward ethics, science and the role of taxes and education, and an advanced view of capital and labor. ... Read more

Book Description

Much of Duhem's work as a professional scientist was closely related to the newly emerging discipline of physical chemistry. The book and associated papers translated here revolve around his concomitant philosophical and historical interests in chemistry-topics largely uncovered by Duhem's writings hitherto available in English. He understood contemporary concerns of chemists to be a development of the ancient dispute over the nature of mixture. Having developed his historical account from distinctions drawn from the atomists and Aristotelians of antiquity, he places his own views of chemical combination squarely within the Aristotelian tradition. Apart from illuminating Duhem's own work, it is of interest to see how the ancient dispute can be related to modern science by someone competent to make such comparisons. The book is lucid and logically stringent without assuming any particular mathematical prerequisites, and provides a masterly statement of an important line of nineteenth century thought which is of interest in its own right as well as providing insight into Duhem's broader philosophical views.Audience: This volume is of interest to Duhem scholars, philosophers of science and chemists with an interest in philosophy. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

The modern world is an artificial world, a world of artifacts, but modern science is a science of nature. In this book we explore Herbert Simon's idea of a science of artifacts, of artificial science. In natural science we want to find out what the world is like. Artificial science is design-oriented. Artifacts inspire us to improvements. While nature is given, artifacts are made, and our interest in them is guided by our interest in making them and making them better. In three essays we examine the idea of an artificial science, the nature of artifacts, our artificial world, and the example of history as an artificial science.

We explore the role of technology in shaping our everyday lives, of engineering as world making, and the demands on such engineering to look beyond the mere functionality of technology to its larger social impact. We discuss the many varieties of artifacts, their relations to each other, and their role in defining our societies, our selves and our minds. We analyze the very idea of history and argue that the fundamental subject matter of history as an artificial science is perennial human problems and dilemmas. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Mind Master
This book is an amazing form to keep in mind your abilities and a special form to practice your skills for cal and learn how you can do many things dialy without a great,strong dedication.
From my point of view we don't use the brain always, we actuate like an automat and this book explain us the way to do simple things by simple forms only thinking.
Try it, it's great...!!!

El hombre que calculaba
El mejor libro de acertijos matemáticos que he leído. Es muy bueno además de sencillo para leer. Aun cuando habla de temas muy conocidos, la adición de anécdotas e historias hace la lectura una amena y fructífera. No importa que tan avanzados sean tus conocimientos en matemáticas encontrarás siempre algo nuevo e interesante que aprender en este libro. ... Read more