Mind and the Cosmic Order: How the Mind Creates the Features & Structure of All Things, and Why this Insight Transforms Physics - Softcover

Pinter, Charles

Softcover

ISBN 10: 3030500829 ISBN 13: 9783030500825

Publisher: Springer, 2020

Synopsis

The topic of this book is the relationship between mind and the physical world. From once being an esoteric question of philosophy, this subject has become a central topic in the foundations of quantum physics. The book traces this story back to Descartes, through Kant, to the beginnings of 20th Century physics, where it becomes clear that the mind-world relationship is not a speculative question but has a direct impact on the understanding of physical phenomena. 

The book’s argument begins with the British empiricists who raised our awareness of the fact that we have no direct contact with physical reality, but it is the mind that constructs the form and features of objects. It is shown that modern cognitive science brings this insight a step further by suggesting that shape and structure are not internal to objects, but arise in the observer. The author goes yet further by arguing that the meaningful connectedness between things ― the hierarchical organization of all we perceive ― is the result of the Gestalt nature of perception and thought, and exists only as a property of mind. These insights give the first glimmerings of a new way of seeing the cosmos:  not as a mineral wasteland but a place inhabited by creatures.  

About this title

About the Author

Charles Pinter was raised in Tangier, Morocco and educated at the French Lycée there. He has a doctorate in mathematical physics from the University of Paris, as well as a degree in journalism. He is known for his work in mathematical logic and model theory. He is professor emeritus at Bucknell University.

From the Back Cover

The topic of this book is the relationship between mind and the physical world. From once being an esoteric question of philosophy, this subject has become a central topic in the foundations of quantum physics. The book traces this story back to Descartes, through Kant, to the beginnings of 20th Century physics, where it becomes clear that the mind-world relationship is not a speculative question but has a direct impact on the understanding of physical phenomena. 

The book’s argument begins with the British empiricists who raised our awareness of the fact that we have no direct contact with physical reality, but it is the mind that constructs the form and features of objects. It is shown that modern cognitive science brings this insight a step further by suggesting that shape and structure are not internal to objects, but arise in the observer. The author goes yet further by arguing that the meaningful connectedness between things ― the hierarchical organization of all we perceive ― is the result of the Gestalt nature of perception and thought, and exists only as a property of mind. These insights give the first glimmerings of a new way of seeing the cosmos:  not as a mineral wasteland but a place inhabited by creatures.  

Edition details

• Publisher: Springer
• Publication date: 2020
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 3030500829
• ISBN 13: 9783030500825
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 187