Victor J Stenger

The Comprehensible Cosmos

When you start studying physics, you realise that it's a big subject - lots of seemingly arbitrary laws to learn. In The Comprehensible Cosmos: Where the Laws of Physics Come FromVictor J. Stenger claims that in fact it's much simpler than it seems.

Stenger argues that if we accept 'Point of View Invariance' - the idea that how the universe works shouldn't depend on where or when you are looking - and combine this with the idea that the universe is based upon symmetries (including gauge symmetries), then the laws of physics can be deduced.

But , if the universe is so simple and based on symmetry, how come it looks so complex to us. To understand this, Stenger describes the ideas of broken symmetry, and looks at how randomness can enter into the workings of the universe. Stenger applies these ideas to the Big Bang, and to the nature of the vacuum, and in the later chapters of the first part discusses how they can lead to a better understanding of the cosmos.

The first part of the book is non-mathematical. The second part consists of mathematical derivations, which should be understandable to and undergraduate physics student. However, I would say that this book is not as simple as it looks - the ideas in the first part are pretty deep, and the second part is effectively a highly compact derivation of many of the laws of physics. But if you're happy with the challenging nature of the book then you'll find much thought provoking material here.

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Hardcover 340 pages
ISBN: 1591024242
Salesrank: 410801
Weight:1.3 lbs

Published: 2006 Prometheus Books

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Hardcover 340 pages
ISBN: 1591024242
Salesrank: 248282
Weight:1.3 lbs

Published: 2006 Prometheus Books

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Hardcover 340 pages
ISBN: 1591024242
Salesrank: 236915
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Published: 2006 Prometheus

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Book Description
"The most incomprehensible thing about the world is that it is comprehensible." – Albert Einstein In a series of remarkable developments in the 20th century and continuing into the 21st, elementary particle physicists, astronomers, and cosmologists have removed much of the mystery that surrounds our understanding of the physical universe. We now have mathematical models that are consistent with all observational data, including measurements of incredible precision, and we have a good understanding of why those models take the form they do. Although current theories will probably be superseded by better, more detailed theories as science continues to advance, the great success of contemporary models makes it likely that scientists are on the right track. In short, the cosmos is undoubtedly comprehensible. But the question arises: Where do the "laws" revealed by the mathematical models come from? Some conjecture that they represent a set of restraints on the behavior of matter that are built into the structure of the universe, either by God or some other ubiquitous governing principle. In this challenging, stimulating discussion of physics and its implications, physicist Victor Stenger disputes this notion. Instead, he argues that physical laws are simply restrictions on the ways physicists may draw the models they use to represent the behavior of matter if they wish to do so objectively. Since mathematical descriptions of data must be independent of any specific point of view, that is, they must possess "point-of-view invariance" (maximum objectivity), they naturally conform to certain fundamental laws that insure that objectivity, such as the great conservation principles of energy and momentum. The laws of physics, however, are not simply an arbitrary set of rules since the observed data beautifully demonstrate their accuracy. For those fascinated by how physics explains the universe and affects philosophy, Stenger’s in-depth presentation, complete with an appendix of mathematical formulas, makes accessible to lay readers findings normally available only to professional scientists.

Book Description

"The most incomprehensible thing about the world is that it is comprehensible." – Albert Einstein In a series of remarkable developments in the 20th century and continuing into the 21st, elementary particle physicists, astronomers, and cosmologists have removed much of the mystery that surrounds our understanding of the physical universe. We now have mathematical models that are consistent with all observational data, including measurements of incredible precision, and we have a good understanding of why those models take the form they do. Although current theories will probably be superseded by better, more detailed theories as science continues to advance, the great success of contemporary models makes it likely that scientists are on the right track. In short, the cosmos is undoubtedly comprehensible.

But the question arises: Where do the "laws" revealed by the mathematical models come from? Some conjecture that they represent a set of restraints on the behavior of matter that are built into the structure of the universe, either by God or some other ubiquitous governing principle. In this challenging, stimulating discussion of physics and its implications, physicist Victor Stenger disputes this notion. Instead, he argues that physical laws are simply restrictions on the ways physicists may draw the models they use to represent the behavior of matter if they wish to do so objectively. Since mathematical descriptions of data must be independent of any specific point of view, that is, they must possess "point-of-view invariance" (maximum objectivity), they naturally conform to certain fundamental laws that insure that objectivity, such as the great conservation principles of energy and momentum. The laws of physics, however, are not simply an arbitrary set of rules since the observed data beautifully demonstrate their accuracy.

For those fascinated by how physics explains the universe and affects philosophy, Stenger’s in-depth presentation, complete with an appendix of mathematical formulas, makes accessible to lay readers findings normally available only to professional scientists.

largely incomprehensible **
I enjoy popular science books and was looking forward to this one, but the PW review got it right: "Stenger's descriptions of the models of physics and his discussion of cosmology will be largely incomprehensible to the average reader."

largely incomprehensible **

I enjoy popular science books and was looking forward to this one, but the PW review got it right: "Stenger's descriptions of the models of physics and his discussion of cosmology will be largely incomprehensible to the average reader."

Didn't hit my sweet spot ***
I am a non-scientist who reads a lot of science. Dr. Stenger's book was brilliantly constructed and argued, digesting a century or two of progress in physics into a few core principles and their descendents. Unfortunately for me, the emphasis on mathematical arguments was not to my particular taste, and I admit to getting bogged down in the quantum mechanics particle soup. I prefer a more expository and less abstract style, as with Feynman's general interest books. Thus, this is not a book I would recommend sight unseen. I do not agree that the material will be accessible to most lay readers of science. I suggest skimming sections to see if it fits your style. For some, the book may be perfect, and I can well understand the very high ratings by some other reviewers. The key concept was how much derives from so little, in particular the point of view invariance. It almost sounds easy, like why didn't people think of these brilliant theories before? That is an amazing insight, really, compared to physical models or the interaction of matter and energy that comes more naturally to humans. Stenger gives gracious credit to Emily Noether, previously unknown to me, for the mathematical work used to derive many of his conclusions. Stenger takes on many topics of interest, usually with brief explanations on fundamental ideas: how can something come from nothing, how can there be energy in a vacuum, why light is actually not a wave, laws vs. the absence of laws, the irrelevance of absolute time, and so on. The mathematical appendix was largely over my head. Too many years removed, I'm afraid. Even where the details were unclear at my level, the mathematical summary was interesting, because it showed which of the principles had fairly basic mathematical foundations and which ones took more sophistication.

Didn't hit my sweet spot ***

I am a non-scientist who reads a lot of science. Dr. Stenger's book was brilliantly constructed and argued, digesting a century or two of progress in physics into a few core principles and their descendents. Unfortunately for me, the emphasis on mathematical arguments was not to my particular taste, and I admit to getting bogged down in the quantum mechanics particle soup. I prefer a more expository and less abstract style, as with Feynman's general interest books. Thus, this is not a book I would recommend sight unseen. I do not agree that the material will be accessible to most lay readers of science. I suggest skimming sections to see if it fits your style. For some, the book may be perfect, and I can well understand the very high ratings by some other reviewers.

The key concept was how much derives from so little, in particular the point of view invariance. It almost sounds easy, like why didn't people think of these brilliant theories before? That is an amazing insight, really, compared to physical models or the interaction of matter and energy that comes more naturally to humans.

Stenger gives gracious credit to Emily Noether, previously unknown to me, for the mathematical work used to derive many of his conclusions.

Stenger takes on many topics of interest, usually with brief explanations on fundamental ideas: how can something come from nothing, how can there be energy in a vacuum, why light is actually not a wave, laws vs. the absence of laws, the irrelevance of absolute time, and so on.

The mathematical appendix was largely over my head. Too many years removed, I'm afraid. Even where the details were unclear at my level, the mathematical summary was interesting, because it showed which of the principles had fairly basic mathematical foundations and which ones took more sophistication.

Succinct overview but title is misleading. ***
This is quite a nifty, compendium like summary of currently accepted laws pertaining to cosmology/particle physics (I refer here to author's clear and mellifluous writing). However if you read his previous books ("Timeless Reality" and "Has Science Found God" in particular) be aware of repetitions. Be alerted as well: this book is neither a typical popular science nor text book. Mathematical supplements take 130 pages out of the total 320 pages!! These math offals/short-cuts are often indigestible even for people familiar with vector calculus. I always have a problem with such books (Penrose's "The Road to Reality" being even more apparent example); whom these books are targeted for - students, scientists or average (though educated) laymen? Another problem with this book - author states with respect to the title: "..the laws of physics are the way they are because they have been defined to be that way (?!).....The viewpoint I present will be that of a strict empiricist who knows of no way to obtain knowledge of the world other than by OBSERVATION and experimentation". This is an honest statement but does not answer a bit the title's question "Where.. from?". Do not hope to become clear on that after reading "The Comprehensible Cosmos". Observing a stray dog on a street does not solve the enigma of "where does he come from" (IMO). We know very little about how it started, we know a bit how Universe expands (by observing, but even interpretations of it is often questioned) and we do not have any idea how the Universe will end. Comprehensive Cosmos? Lets not become to presumptuous.

Succinct overview but title is misleading. ***

This is quite a nifty, compendium like summary of currently accepted laws pertaining to cosmology/particle physics (I refer here to author's clear and mellifluous writing). However if you read his previous books ("Timeless Reality" and "Has Science Found God" in particular) be aware of repetitions. Be alerted as well: this book is neither a typical popular science nor text book. Mathematical supplements take 130 pages out of the total 320 pages!! These math offals/short-cuts are often indigestible even for people familiar with vector calculus. I always have a problem with such books (Penrose's "The Road to Reality" being even more apparent example); whom these books are targeted for - students, scientists or average (though educated) laymen? Another problem with this book - author states with respect to the title: "..the laws of physics are the way they are because they have been defined to be that way (?!).....The viewpoint I present will be that of a strict empiricist who knows of no way to obtain knowledge of the world other than by OBSERVATION and experimentation". This is an honest statement but does not answer a bit the title's question "Where.. from?". Do not hope to become clear on that after reading "The Comprehensible Cosmos". Observing a stray dog on a street does not solve the enigma of "where does he come from" (IMO). We know very little about how it started, we know a bit how Universe expands (by observing, but even interpretations of it is often questioned) and we do not have any idea how the Universe will end. Comprehensive Cosmos? Lets not become to presumptuous.

Many a professor will wish to use it as a foundation for classroom discussion *****
Professor Victor J. Stenger provides a fine survey of the status and science of physics in THE COMPREHENSIBLE COSMOS: WHERE DO THE LAWS OF PHYSICS COME FROM? Where exactly do the 'laws' revealed by math come from, and do they represent religious constraints on behavior built in by God or a governing body? These and other intriguing questions provide students of physics with challenging food for thought in a survey essential to college-level collections. Many a professor will wish to use it as a foundation for classroom discussion and debate extending the realm of scientific observation and discovery into the world of philosophical meaning.

Many a professor will wish to use it as a foundation for classroom discussion *****

Professor Victor J. Stenger provides a fine survey of the status and science of physics in THE COMPREHENSIBLE COSMOS: WHERE DO THE LAWS OF PHYSICS COME FROM? Where exactly do the 'laws' revealed by math come from, and do they represent religious constraints on behavior built in by God or a governing body? These and other intriguing questions provide students of physics with challenging food for thought in a survey essential to college-level collections. Many a professor will wish to use it as a foundation for classroom discussion and debate extending the realm of scientific observation and discovery into the world of philosophical meaning.

Comprehensible Cosmos, Stenger ****
Two parts. The first two thirds of the book is in general terms, and very interesting. The remaining third is mathematical appendices, accounts of the maths behind the first part. It seemed to me that the details of this mathematical presentation were flakey ( though of course the results are well established ).

Comprehensible Cosmos, Stenger ****

Two parts. The first two thirds of the book is in general terms, and very interesting. The remaining third is mathematical appendices, accounts of the maths behind the first part. It seemed to me that the details of this mathematical presentation were flakey ( though of course the results are well established ).