The blind spot
Subtitle: science and the crisis of uncertainty
By: William Byers
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Published: 2011
Place of publication: Princeton, N.J
Language: eng
Number of pages: 208
ISBN-13: 9780691146843
Subjects: Social aspects; Science; Uncertainty (Information theory)
Description: Drawing on an array of examples--from Wall Street's overreliance on algorithms to provide certainty in uncertain markets, to undecidable problems in mathematics and computer science, to Georg Cantor's paradoxical but true assertions about infinity--mathematician William Byers explains why the subjective element of scientific inquiry is in fact what makes it so dynamic, why the need for certainty and rigor in science should be balanced with the equally important need for creativity, and how we can and must learn from the existence of blind spots in our scientific and mathematical understanding.--Adapted from publisher description.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.
Table of contents: title: The revelation of uncertainty; title: The blind spot; title: The blind spot revealed; title: Certainty or wonder?; title: A world in crisis!; title: Ambiguity; title: Self-reference : the human element in science; title: The mystery of number; title: Science as the ambiguous search for unity; title: The still point; title: Living in a world of uncertainty.