From Strange Simplicity to Complex Familiarity: A Treatise on Matter, Information, Life and ThoughtThis book presents a vivid argument for the almost lost idea of a unity of all natural sciences. It starts with the "strange" physics of matter, including particle physics, atomic physics and quantum mechanics, cosmology, relativity and their consequences (Chapter I), and it continues by describing the properties of material systems that are best understood by statistical and phase-space concepts (Chapter II). These lead to entropy and to the classical picture of quantitative information, initially devoid of value and meaning (Chapter III). Finally, "information space" and dynamics within it are introduced as a basis for semantics (Chapter IV), leading to an exploration of life and thought as new problems in physics (Chapter V). Dynamic equations - again of a strange (but very general) nature - bring about the complex familiarity of the world we live in. Surprising new results in the life sciences open our eyes to the richness of physical thought, and they show us what can and what cannot be explained by a Darwinian approach. The abstract physical approach is applicable to the origins of life, of meaningful information and even of our universe. |
Contents
1 Matter and Energy | 1 |
2 Energy and Entropy | 139 |
3 Entropy and Information | 227 |
4 Information and Complexity | 317 |
5 Complexity and SelfOrganisation | 475 |
Conclusion | 614 |
APPENDICES TO CHAPTER 1 | 625 |
APPENDIX TO CHAPTER 2 | 639 |
APPENDIX TO CHAPTER 3 | 651 |
APPENDIX TO CHAPTER 4 | 667 |
APPENDIX TO CHAPTER 5 | 701 |
| 717 | |
| 724 | |
Other editions - View all
From Strange Simplicity to Complex Familiarity: A Treatise on Matter ... Manfred Eigen Limited preview - 2013 |
From Strange Simplicity to Complex Familiarity: A Treatise on Matter ... Manfred Eigen Limited preview - 2013 |
From Strange Simplicity to Complex Familiarity: A Treatise on Matter ... Manfred Eigen No preview available - 2013 |
Common terms and phrases
ADVANTAGE ADVANTAGE ADVANTAGE atoms autocatalytic behaviour Biebricher binary biology black hole called characterised chemical chemistry complexity constant curve Darwinian defined described diagram dimensions distance distribution Eigen eigenvalues Einstein electron energy entropy enzyme equation equilibrium error threshold evolution evolutionary example experimental exponential expressed fact Figure finite function genetic Göttingen gravitational Hamming distance Hence hypercube hypercycle informational entropy interactions involved kinetics length linear machine mass mathematical matrix means microstates molecular molecules momentum mutants natural selection neutral Nobel origin particles Peter Schuster phase transitions Phys physical physicist Planck population positions principle probability problem protein proton quantum mechanics quarks quasi-species question radiation reaction refers relative replication represented reproduction requires result Section sequence sequence space shows simplex solution space special relativity sphere strand structure symbols symmetry temperature template theory thermodynamics universe variables volume yields zero