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The Beginning of Infinity: Explanations That Transform the World (2011)

by David Deutsch

Other authors: Nicholas Blechman (Illustrator)

Other authors: See the other authors section.

MembersReviewsPopularityAverage ratingMentions
9772221,215 (3.86)6
"A bold and all-embracing exploration of the nature and progress of knowledge from one of today's great thinkers. Throughout history, mankind has struggled to understand life's mysteries, from the mundane to the seemingly miraculous. In this important new book, David Deutsch, an award-winning pioneer in the field of quantum computation, argues that explanations have a fundamental place in the universe. They have unlimited scope and power to cause change, and the quest to improve them is the basic regulating principle not only of science but of all successful human endeavor. This stream of ever improving explanations has infinite reach, according to Deutsch: we are subject only to the laws of physics, and they impose no upper boundary to what we can eventually understand, control, and achieve. In his previous book, The Fabric of Reality, Deutsch describe the four deepest strands of existing knowledge-the theories of evolution, quantum physics, knowledge, and computation-arguing jointly they reveal a unified fabric of reality. In this new book, he applies that worldview to a wide range of issues and unsolved problems, from creativity and free will to the origin and future of the human species. Filled with startling new conclusions about human choice, optimism, scientific explanation, and the evolution of culture, The Beginning of Infinity is a groundbreaking book that will become a classic of its kind"--… (more)
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» See also 6 mentions

Showing 1-5 of 22 (next | show all)
A profoundly interesting take on humans, knowledge and a whole lot of other seemingly unrelated subjects. This book was a joy to read, with frequent notes of optimism about the present and future of humanity. Will absolutely be returning to reread chapters or maybe the entire book in search of deeper understanding of what Deutsch has written. ( )
  wsampson13 | Mar 2, 2024 |
This is a philosophy text that is clear, accessible and transformative. It presents a world view that reaches out into many dimensions of human life.

I am a mostly cynical contrarian with respect to simple ideas that explain the world but with this book I find an exception. David Deutsch flips some of the most ingrained views we have into simple explanations, and he orchestrates it into a pragmatic, positive view of the advancement of knowledge.

This book really should be, not only read but understood as a choice of vision by everyone. Whether one then chooses an alternate view on the world, it will be with the awareness of what was lost. ( )
  yates9 | Feb 28, 2024 |
Some interesting ideas about why progress was so slow to get going ( Deutsch pinpoints the Enlightenment as the start of real knowledge). He is a rationalists wanting good science and good philosophy to guide what we think we know and speculates on how long our island of knowledge will expand this quickly, how we will find or unlock creativity in thought.
  BookyMaven | Dec 6, 2023 |
اصطحبني في رحلة عبر الزمان والمكان، عبر فلسفة العلم والثقافة، موضحاً كيفية تكوين وتحسين المعرفة، وكيف تدعم هذه العملية التقدم اللامحدود —المعروف أيضاً ببداية اللانهاية، وهو اسم الكتاب.
يستعين دويتش بأمثلة من عدة مجالات، خاصةً الفيزياء، لشرح نقاط أساسية في فلسفة العلوم، كاستحالة الاكتفاء بالحواس فقط لتحصيل المعرفة، والحاجة الملحة للافتراض والتكهن ثم التجريب والتنظير. يتناول أيضاً آلية تكاثر الأفكار، ودور المعتقدات الجمعية في تحديد أطر الثقافة. هنا يقسم المجتمعات إلى ستاتيكية ثابتة وديناميكية متغيرة مشيراً إلى تعارض بعض المبادئ الاجتماعية الراسخة مع المنطق. لعل الفكرة الأهم التي يركز عليها هي أنَّ عدم إمكانية التنبؤ بالمستقبل تفتح المجال أمام احتمالات وتطورات لامحدودة يستحيل تخيلها.
جميل جداً ( )
  TonyDib | Jan 28, 2022 |
The first time I read this book I did not catch so much of the profound knowledge this book has to offer and I still felt it was amazing. On second read I can now more confidently claim that this is perhaps one of the greatest book ever written.

Update: Yup, definitely my favorite book.

Dispelled any notion that inductivist is not a myth
Showed that Humans are Universal explanatory knowledge creators
Scientific knowledge is acquired not by empiricism - but through bold conjectures and refutations. Empiricism plays the role of criticism.

Optimism- All evil is caused by lack of knowledge. Thus every problem can be solved.

Deutsch is a true proponent of Popper. And improves upon his work. Reach of explanations is an example.

Brilliant read again. A book I will come back to again and again. ( )
  SeekingApatheia | Apr 13, 2021 |
Showing 1-5 of 22 (next | show all)
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Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
David Deutschprimary authorall editionscalculated
Blechman, NicholasIllustratorsecondary authorall editionsconfirmed
Buckley, PaulDesignersecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed

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Progress that is both rapid enough to be noticed and stable enough to continue over many generations has been achieved only once in the history of our species.
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"A bold and all-embracing exploration of the nature and progress of knowledge from one of today's great thinkers. Throughout history, mankind has struggled to understand life's mysteries, from the mundane to the seemingly miraculous. In this important new book, David Deutsch, an award-winning pioneer in the field of quantum computation, argues that explanations have a fundamental place in the universe. They have unlimited scope and power to cause change, and the quest to improve them is the basic regulating principle not only of science but of all successful human endeavor. This stream of ever improving explanations has infinite reach, according to Deutsch: we are subject only to the laws of physics, and they impose no upper boundary to what we can eventually understand, control, and achieve. In his previous book, The Fabric of Reality, Deutsch describe the four deepest strands of existing knowledge-the theories of evolution, quantum physics, knowledge, and computation-arguing jointly they reveal a unified fabric of reality. In this new book, he applies that worldview to a wide range of issues and unsolved problems, from creativity and free will to the origin and future of the human species. Filled with startling new conclusions about human choice, optimism, scientific explanation, and the evolution of culture, The Beginning of Infinity is a groundbreaking book that will become a classic of its kind"--

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Penguin Australia

An edition of this book was published by Penguin Australia.

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