Mind Of God, The: Science And The Search For Ultimate Meaning

Description:
This is a book exploring the questions of modern physics such as why does maths, an abstract system of logic invented by man prove to be so useful in understanding the laws of nature?

Table of Contents:
Part 1 Reason and belief: the scientific miracle; human reason and common sense; thoughts about thought; a rational world; metaphysics - who needs it?; time and eternity - the fundamental paradox of existence. Part 2 Can the universe create itself?: was there a creation event?; creation from nothing; the beginning of time; cyclic world revisited; continuous creation; did God cause the Big Bang?; creation without creation; mother and child universes. Part 3 What are the laws of nature?: the origin of law; the cosmic code; the status of the laws today; what does it mean for something to 'exist'?; in the beginning. Part 4 Mathematics and reality: magic numbers; mechanizing mathematics; the uncomputable; why does arithmetic work?; Russian dolls and artificial life. Part 5 Real worlds and virtual worlds: simulating reality; is the universe a computer?; the unattainable; the unknowable; the cosmic programme. Part 6 The mathematical secret: is mathematics already 'out there'?; the cosmic computer; why us?; why are the laws of nature mathematical?; how can we know something without knowing everything?. Part 7 Why is the world the way it is?: an intelligible universe; a unique theory of everything?; contingent order; the best of all possible worlds? beauty as a guide to truth; is God necessary?; a dipolar God and wheeler's cloud; does God have to exist?; the options; a God who plays dice. Part 8 Designer universe: the unity of the Universe; life is so difficult; has the universe been design by an intelligent creator?; the ingenuity of nature; a place for everything and everything in its place; is there need for a designer?; multiple realities; cosmological Darwinism. Part 9 The mystery at the end of the universe: turtle power; mystical knowledge; the infinite; what is man?.

Author Biography:
Paul Davies is an internationally acclaimed physicist, writer and broadcaster, now based in South Australia. He is the author of some twenty award-winning books, including About Time and The Fifth Miracle: The Search for the Origin of Life.