Title
The Best Of All Possible Worlds: Mathematics And Destiny
Delivery time: 8-12 business days (International)
Optimists Believe This Is The Best Of All Possible Worlds. And Pessimists Fear That Might Really Be The Case. But What Is The Best Of All Possible Worlds? How Do We Define It? Is It The World That Operates The Most Efficiently? Or The One In Which Most People Are Comfortable And Content? Questions Such As These Have Preoccupied Philosophers And Theologians For Ages, But There Was A Time, During The Seventeenth And Eighteenth Centuries, When Scientists And Mathematicians Felt They Could Provide The Answer.This Book Is Their Story. Ivar Ekeland Here Takes The Reader On A Journey Through Scientific Attempts To Envision The Best Of All Possible Worlds. He Begins With The French Physicist Maupertuis, Whose Least Action Principle Asserted That Everything In Nature Occurs In The Way That Requires The Least Possible Action. This Idea, Ekeland Shows, Was A Pivotal Breakthrough In Mathematics, Because It Was The First Expression Of The Concept Of Optimization, Or The Creation Of Systems That Are The Most Efficient Or Functional. Although The Least Action Principle Was Later Elaborated On And Overshadowed By The Theories Of Leonhard Euler And Gottfried Leibniz, The Concept Of Optimization That Emerged From It Is An Important One That Touches Virtually Every Scientific Discipline Today.Tracing The Profound Impact Of Optimization And The Unexpected Ways In Which It Has Influenced The Study Of Mathematics, Biology, Economics, And Even Politics, Ekeland Reveals Throughout How The Idea Of Optimization Has Driven Some Of Our Greatest Intellectual Breakthroughs. The Result Is A Dazzling Display Of Eruditionone That Will Be Essential Reading For Popularscience Buffs And Historians Of Science Alike.
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To facilitate a smooth return process, a Return Authorization (RA) Number is required for all returns. Returns without a valid RA number will be declined and may incur additional fees. You can request an RA number within 15 days of the original delivery date. For more details, please refer to our Return & Refund Policy page.
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Warranty
We provide a 2-year limited warranty, from the date of purchase for all our products.
If you believe you have received a defective product, or are experiencing any problems with your product, please contact us.
This warranty strictly does not cover damages that arose from negligence, misuse, wear and tear, or not in accordance with product instructions (dropping the product, etc.).
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Frequently Asked Questions
- Q: What is the main theme of 'The Best of All Possible Worlds: Mathematics and Destiny'? A: The main theme explores the concept of optimization and how it relates to defining the best of all possible worlds through historical scientific and mathematical perspectives.
- Q: Who is the author of the book? A: The author of the book is Ivar Ekeland.
- Q: What is the publication date of this book? A: The book was published on October 31, 2007.
- Q: How many pages does the book contain? A: The book contains 207 pages.
- Q: What type of binding does this book have? A: This book is available in paperback binding.
- Q: What subjects does the book cover? A: The book covers subjects related to history, philosophy, mathematics, and the impact of optimization across various disciplines.
- Q: Is the book suitable for someone interested in popular science? A: Yes, the book is essential reading for popular-science enthusiasts as well as historians of science.
- Q: What kind of reader would benefit from this book? A: Readers interested in the interplay between mathematics, science, and philosophical questions about the nature of the world will find this book particularly beneficial.
- Q: Does the book include real-world examples or historical figures? A: Yes, the book discusses historical figures such as French physicist Maupertuis and examines their contributions to the concept of optimization.
- Q: What is the significance of the least action principle discussed in the book? A: The least action principle is significant as it represents the first expression of optimization, which has influenced various scientific disciplines and intellectual breakthroughs.