Nature Loves to Hide: Quantum Physics and Reality, a Western Perspective

by Shimon Malin

The strangeness of modern physics has sparked several popular books--such as The Tao of Physics --that explore its affinity with Eastern mysticism. But the founders of quantum mechanics were educated in the classical traditions of Western civilization and Western philosophy. In Nature Loves to Hide , physicist Shimon Malin takes readers on a fascinating tour of quantum theory--one that turns to Western philosophical thought to clarify this strange yet inescapable explanation of reality.
Malin translates quantum mechanics into plain English, explaining its origins and workings against the backdrop of the famous debate between Niels Bohr and the skeptical Albert Einstein. Then he moves on to build a philosophical framework that can account for the quantum nature of reality. He shows, for instance, how Platonic and Neoplatonic thought resonates with quantum theory. He draws out the linkage between the concepts of Neoplatonism and the more recent process philosophy of Alfred North Whitehead. The universe, Whitehead wrote, is an organic whole, composed not of lifeless objects, but "elementary experiences." Beginning with Whitehead's insight, Malin shows how this concept of "throbs of experience" expresses quantum reality, with its subatomic uncertainties, its constituents that are waves and also particles, its emphasis on acts of measurement.
Once any educated person could explain the universe as a vast Newtonian web of cause and effect, but since quantum theory, reality again appears to be richer and more mysterious than we had thought. Writing with broad humanistic insight and deep knowledge of science, and using delightful conversations with fictional astronauts Peter and Julie to explain more difficult concepts, Shimon Malin offers a profound new understanding of the nature of reality--one that shows a deep continuity with aspects of our Western philosophical tradition going back 2500 years, and that feels more deeply satisfying, and truer, than the clockwork universe of Newton.

Genres: Science, Philosophy, Physics, Theory, Nonfiction, Westerns, Metaphysics

289 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2001

Reviews

[Islomjon · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Nature Loves to Hide" mostly philosophical work rather than popular scientific book. Shimon Malin tried his best to produce the best introductory to Quantum Mechanics world and I considerably liked his work as the way how he processes things and philosophical attitude to the Quantum Mechanics. What's more good in the book, excess amount of scientists' quotations such as Einstein, Shrödinger, Heisenberg, etc.

However, one third of the book is related to arguments between Einstein versus Bohr and other scientists to accept Quantum Mechanics principals in our world. It was at some extent irritating (not to say I don't like Einstein) to read in each section this argument. On the other hand, book is too difficult to understand Quantum Mechanics, because it reasonably focuses on Ancient Greek and contemporary philosophies.

All in all, I would not recommend to read this book who is not familiar with Quantum Mechanics and philosophy.

[Breezy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m going back and forth between 3 and 4 stars here.

Pros
- I loved the stories and analogies he used to explain the concepts.
- The philosophical stance was highly intriguing. Essentially the idea is will always be limited in our understanding of science until we reject the concept of the Western limited consciousness.
- I loved how humble the author was in his thirst for understanding. Science’s goal is to help us understand our world - and the author stressed that science is limited, disproven, and often gets it wildly wrong.

Cons
- This took me a while to read and while part of that was due to the dense topics, I also felt the author meandered around the questions so long that by the time he got back to it I had forgotten the original question.
- I am still not sure if his friends with whom he discusses the theories are real or figments of his imagination.
- The ending felt anticlimactic - and maybe that was the point, but it didn’t give me any kind of closure on the topics.
- The endorsements gave me the impression this book was more of an introduction, but in reality you need to have a basic understanding of quantum mechanics and philosophy before reading.

[Aaron Doerr · Rating 4 out of 5]

At the risk of sounding like i really know what i'm talking about, this book and most likely the subject itself is pretty darn amazing. It's easy to read multiple times through. Got me thinking about science in a new way.

[Judia]

The new revised edition will include a conversation between two fictional characters to elucidate the discussion of the meaning of wave functions; certainly a breath of fresh air.
Can visit: http://www.worldscibooks.com/physics/... to find out more.

[Bridget]

This is the most amazing book if your into learning about quantum physics. It really helps the "science idiot" grasp the concept.

[Kerri Simpson · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a pretty good basic overview. i picked up my copy by accident and Im glad I did. It was fasinating.