Printer Friendly
The Free Library
14,497,001 articles and books
Member login
User name  
Password 
 
Join us Forgot password?

The Cosmic Landscape: String Theory and the Illusion of Intelligent Design.


THE COSMIC LANDSCAPE: String Theory and the Illusion Illusion
See also Appearances, Deceiving.

Barmecide feast

imaginary feast served t0 beggar by prince. [Arab. Lit.: Arabian Nights, “The Barmecide’s Feast”]

Emperor’s New Clothes
 of Intelligent Design LEONARD SUSSKIND Leonard Susskind (born 1940[2]) is the Felix Bloch professor of theoretical physics at Stanford University in the field of string theory and quantum field theory.  

Widely recognized as the father of string theory, Susskind tackles another idea that's so contentious that it has formed a rift within the physics community and beyond. Susskind's idea, known as the anthropic principle In physics and cosmology, the anthropic principle states that we should take into account the constraints that our existence as observers imposes on the sort of universe that we could observe. , states that the universe is uniquely structured to allow for the presence of intelligent life. But instead of ascribing this event to the agency of a supreme designer, he credits the universe's structure to an accident of mathematics. Here, Susskind outlines how the laws of physics have created a universe that provides the specific building blocks of life in a structure that's habitable habitable adj. referring to a residence that is safe and can be occupied in reasonable comfort. Although standards vary by region, the premises should be closed in against the weather, provide running water, access to decent toilets and bathing facilities, heating, . Finally, he argues that pocket universes, each containing its own set of physical laws and properties, probably exist. Little, Brown and Company, 2006, 404 p., b&w illus., hardcover, $24,95,
COPYRIGHT 2006 Science Service, Inc.
No portion of this article can be reproduced without the express written permission from the copyright holder.
Copyright 2006, Gale Group. All rights reserved. Gale Group is a Thomson Corporation Company.

 Reader Opinion

Title:

Comment:



 

Article Details
Printer friendly Cite/link Email Feedback
Publication:Science News
Article Type:Book review
Date:Nov 4, 2006
Words:141
Previous Article:A Year in the Life of the Universe: A Seasonal Guide to Viewing the Cosmos.(Brief article)(Book review)
Next Article:A Beautiful Math: John Nash, Game Theory, and the Modern Quest for a Code of Nature.(Brief article)(Book review)
Topics:



Related Articles
The Whole Shebang: A State of the Universe(s) Report.
THE LANDSCAPE APPROACH.(Review)
THE NEW TECH GARDEN.(Changes in Scenery)(Review)
Darwin Day Collection One: the Single Best Idea, Ever.(Book Review)
Operatic gardening.(The Garden of Cosmic Speculation)(Book Review)
Design or By Chance? The Growing Controversy on the Origins of Life in the Universe.(Book Review)
A Briefer History of Time.(book by Stephen Hawking and Leonard Mlodinow)(Brief Article)(Book Review)
Volatile Stardust: the fertile mind of astronomer Fred Hoyle.(Conflict in the Cosmos: Fred Hoyle's Life in Science)(Fred Hoyle's Universe)(Book...
Why Darwin Matters: The Case Against Intelligent Design.(Brief article)(Book review)
The Super Elastic Traveling Sound Circus.(Brief article)(Book review)

Terms of use | Copyright © 2009 Farlex, Inc. | Feedback | For webmasters | Submit articles