Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Publication
Oxford University Press (1995), Edition: 1st, 274 pages
Description
John Barrow looks at the relationship between the way our understanding of the universe reflects the ways in which evolution has shaped our brains, and our expression of that understanding in science, maths and art.
User reviews
LibraryThing member m.belljackson
Extremely erudite consideration of relations, ancient and current, between humans in the universe and the arts. It would have been welcome to have an advanced degree in mathematics to completely comprehend and appreciate all the distinctions.
Science uncovers an objective quest to uncover the laws
John Barrow attempts to visualize the arts - music, painting, literature, and more - with a creative scientist's perspective, given that art and science "...spring from a shared source -
the careful observation of things...."
The book curiously jumps around, from Kant to computers, often with humor, as in the chapter headings.
He does not consider that, though maybe science is, that art is not the exclusive domain of human animals, that our closest cousins, chimpanzees and gorillas, can both paint and communicate in sign language. Also, it may well be that the easiest cave art did try to match reality with the image.
Science uncovers an objective quest to uncover the laws
Show More
of nature. John Barrow attempts to visualize the arts - music, painting, literature, and more - with a creative scientist's perspective, given that art and science "...spring from a shared source -
the careful observation of things...."
The book curiously jumps around, from Kant to computers, often with humor, as in the chapter headings.
He does not consider that, though maybe science is, that art is not the exclusive domain of human animals, that our closest cousins, chimpanzees and gorillas, can both paint and communicate in sign language. Also, it may well be that the easiest cave art did try to match reality with the image.
Show Less
LibraryThing member jwhenderson
Why do we like the things around us in the world. What do beautiful things and memorable stories and myths have in common. This book approaches questions like these through the lens of evolutionary history and the way that we and our planet exist in the universe help to explain why we think and
Show More
believe the way that we do. The beauty of a scientific approach to our place in the universe is presented in an artful way. Show Less
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1995
Physical description
274 p.; 9.63 inches
ISBN
0198539967 / 9780198539964