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The Artful Universe
In iThe Artful Universe Expanded/i, John D. Barrow draws out the deep links between our aesthetic inclinations - our art, our music, our appreciation of form, pattern, and landscape - and the mathematical and physical structure of the Universe of which we form a part. Barrow challenges the commonly held view that our sense of beauty is entirely free and unfettered. He argues that as beings that have evolved in this Universe, we are products of its natural laws and its underlying mathematical forms. Our minds show the imprints of this structure, which constrains and moulds our perceptions and our aesthetic preferences. In this rich and wide-ranging exploration, Barrow looks at the evolution of complexity, form in painting, computer art and music, and how landscapes and the wheeling patterns of stars in the night sky have impinged upon the human psyche. Originally published in 1995, this revised and expanded edition includes new essays on topics including the beauty of vases, the fractal nature of Jackson Pollock's art, life on extrasolar planets, multiverses, and the question of whether we might be living in a simulated universe (and if so, how would we know?). This is a deeply inspiring and erudite work from an author described by Sir Martin Rees as 'emerging as the Stephen Jay Gould of the mathematical sciences'.
274 pages, Paperback
First published December 21, 1995
About the author
John D. Barrow
91 books173 followersJohn D. Barrow was a professor of mathematical sciences and director of the Millennium Mathematics Project at Cambridge University and a Fellow of the Royal Society.
He was awarded the 2006 Templeton Prize for "Progress Toward Research or Discoveries about Spiritual Realities" for his "writings about the relationship between life and the universe, and the nature of human understanding [which] have created new perspectives on questions of ultimate concern to science and religion".
He was a member of a United Reformed Church, which he described as teaching "a traditional deistic picture of the universe".
He was awarded the 2006 Templeton Prize for "Progress Toward Research or Discoveries about Spiritual Realities" for his "writings about the relationship between life and the universe, and the nature of human understanding [which] have created new perspectives on questions of ultimate concern to science and religion".
He was a member of a United Reformed Church, which he described as teaching "a traditional deistic picture of the universe".
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
January 4, 2022
A really well written book but way above my understanding. Will definitely go back for round 2 (and hopefully some of the complex information will sink in lol).
I learned a lot about many scientific ideas and there possible relations to art. I consider myself an artist, not in a creative sense, but I can appreciate a serene view and indy movies and things which may bore the average onlooker.
I learned a lot about many scientific ideas and there possible relations to art. I consider myself an artist, not in a creative sense, but I can appreciate a serene view and indy movies and things which may bore the average onlooker.
July 22, 2018
Una obra de arte, mucho conocimiento y teorías explicadas mayormente, de forma sencilla. Un autor con una tremenda capacidad para plantear cuestiones trascendentales y dejar en el aire varias posibilidades de respuesta. Sólo quedan ganas de conocer más sobre su obra.
November 30, 2017
There is a tremendous amount of fascinating information in this book, but I think because it covers so many topics it's a real chore to stay engaged.
July 23, 2019
incredibly fascinating book. i had to take notes in the margins at one point just to have for later to go back and look at some of the most awesome tidbits. but the book is incredibly dense, and covers an almost too broad range of material
August 13, 2022
Disclosure: this review is about The Artful Universe, the predecessor to this book, as it does not have an entry on this site.
Written at the time when the amount of scientists warning about the reality of climate change was painfully insignificant and read a few months after the author's passing. A quarter century later and we are seeing weekly civic protests against said climate change, but bold and meaningful measures still need to be taken. It is just one of the many pieces of evidence on the timelessness of the book's subject matter.
The book contains many scientific insights and combines the viewpoints from other philosophers and scientists into one coherent thematic story. However, not all statements are equally well substantiated or referenced in scientific literature. A few examples:
1- "By using signs and sounds to transmit information we have been able to bypass the slow process of natural selection, which is constrained by the lifetimes of the individual members of the species."
The author does not mention that this is further constrained by the even shorter fertility window.
2- "The things that we would learn about the uniqueness of our concepts, languages, and other modes of description would be things that we could never learn without access to an independent extraterrestrial civilization, no matter how far we advanced our own studies."
The statement that only complex life forms can exist and rich in its diversity at moderate temperatures is extrapolating from the known. There has simply not enough evidence been collected to refute the notion that for example life forms exist at high temperatures, even if they do not rely on biochemical processes. What we call life forms or sentient beings ought to be expanded in its definition.
3- "Buildings that offer no enticement to enter are abominations that have led to depression, crime, and emotional disequilibrium."
Well, a bit more is needed and it is often down to policy - or lack thereof -that these situations arise.
Most sections are named after famous works of literature.
Written at the time when the amount of scientists warning about the reality of climate change was painfully insignificant and read a few months after the author's passing. A quarter century later and we are seeing weekly civic protests against said climate change, but bold and meaningful measures still need to be taken. It is just one of the many pieces of evidence on the timelessness of the book's subject matter.
The book contains many scientific insights and combines the viewpoints from other philosophers and scientists into one coherent thematic story. However, not all statements are equally well substantiated or referenced in scientific literature. A few examples:
1- "By using signs and sounds to transmit information we have been able to bypass the slow process of natural selection, which is constrained by the lifetimes of the individual members of the species."
The author does not mention that this is further constrained by the even shorter fertility window.
2- "The things that we would learn about the uniqueness of our concepts, languages, and other modes of description would be things that we could never learn without access to an independent extraterrestrial civilization, no matter how far we advanced our own studies."
The statement that only complex life forms can exist and rich in its diversity at moderate temperatures is extrapolating from the known. There has simply not enough evidence been collected to refute the notion that for example life forms exist at high temperatures, even if they do not rely on biochemical processes. What we call life forms or sentient beings ought to be expanded in its definition.
3- "Buildings that offer no enticement to enter are abominations that have led to depression, crime, and emotional disequilibrium."
Well, a bit more is needed and it is often down to policy - or lack thereof -that these situations arise.
Most sections are named after famous works of literature.
January 6, 2019
A fascinating subject - how human standards of aesthetic assessment are shaped by physical reality - obscured by a muddled presentation. There is valuable information here but it would have benefited from less turgid prose.
June 5, 2020
Libro difficile, spesso ripetitivo. Il mio prof delle superiori direbbe che l'autore è andato fuori tema.
Tutto sommato ho imparato abbastanza, anche se leggerlo è stato come stare su delle montagne russe di informazioni.
Tutto sommato ho imparato abbastanza, anche se leggerlo è stato come stare su delle montagne russe di informazioni.
July 6, 2023
Un libro super interesante
October 4, 2023
A new perspective on universe. An attempt to discover a pattern of our universe.
December 28, 2024
Some brilliant insights, but the narrative thread is too wildly woven. Not for a casual read- must really concentrate on this one.
December 20, 2016
Tleskám.
Neuvěřitelně zajímavé postřehy o vnímání vesmíru jako prapříčině umění. Bylo to útrpně složité čtení, ale stálo to za to, přesto hvězdička dolů za občasné utíkání od tématu "vnímání umění" k dopadům evoluce a možnosti existence mimozemských civilizací.
Neuvěřitelně zajímavé postřehy o vnímání vesmíru jako prapříčině umění. Bylo to útrpně složité čtení, ale stálo to za to, přesto hvězdička dolů za občasné utíkání od tématu "vnímání umění" k dopadům evoluce a možnosti existence mimozemských civilizací.
August 3, 2007
Space, deliciously beautiful space.
November 13, 2008
I bought this book while living overseas and loved it.
April 28, 2020
Fortunatamente, la Luna esiste
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews