philosophy

Presents personal stories and advice from astronaut Buzz Aldrin, who first walked on the moon in 1966. Includes thirteen life lessons dealing with family, motivation, relationships, and trust.

Traces the history of government schools and the dominant educational theories over the last 150 years and argues that schools have failed because they presume that all children are essentially interchangeable and can be educated in the same way.

"A theoretical physicist and jazz musician combines his two loves to present a new theory of the universe: sound as the link between Einstein's relativity with quantum mechanics"--Amazon.com.

Does the universe embody beautiful ideas? Artists as well as scientists throughout human history have pondered this "beautiful question." With Nobel laureate Frank Wilczek as your guide, embark on a voyage of related discoveries, from Plato and Pythagoras up to the present. Wilczek's groundbreaking work in quantum physics was inspired by his intuition to look for a deeper order of beauty in nature. In fact, every major advance in his career came from this intuition: to assume that the universe embodies beautiful forms, forms whose hallmarks are symmetry--harmony, balance, proportion--and economy. There are other meanings of "beauty," but this is the deep logic of the universe--and it is no accident that it is also at the heart of what we find aesthetically pleasing and inspiring. As he reveals here, this has been the heart of scientific pursuit from Pythagoras, the ancient Greek who was the first to argue that "all things are number," to Galileo, Newton, Maxwell, Einstein, and into the deep waters of twentieth-century physics. Gorgeously illustrated, A Beautiful Question is a mind-shifting book that braids the age-old quest for beauty and the age-old quest for truth into a thrilling synthesis. Yes: the world is a work of art, and its deepest truths are ones we already feel, as if they were somehow written in our souls.--From publisher description.

"What has A.I. brought us? Where will it lead us? The story of A.I. is the story of intelligence--of life processes as they evolve from bacteria (1.0) to humans (2.0), where life processes define their own software, to technology (3.0), where life processes design both their hardware and software. We know that A.I. is transforming work, laws, and weapons, as well as the dark side of computing (hacking and viral sabotage), raising questions that we all need to address"--Provided by publisher.

"The African philosophy of Ubuntu embraces the belief that we are universally connected to each other. Richards suggests it could transform the way we treat others, making us kinder and more respectful to others, on and off the job. He believes that the illusion that we are more different than similar is eroding our ability to truly live a productive and satisfying life. Discover how this simple concept could change our own behavior--and the world around us"--OCLC.

"Hunting game has been a way of life for humans for two million years. People around the world hunt both as a source of food and for sport. While its critics argue that hunting is barbaric and a rich man's sport, its supporters defend the activity in terms of tradition, culture, and population control. Of course, there are still societies around the world that depend on hunting to survive. But for the rest, can hunting ever be justified? [This volume considers the many perspectives of this issue]"--Provided by publisher.

"The recent wave of statues, building names, and other monuments memorializing figures like Christopher Columbus and Confederate generals being removed from public spaces and college campuses has brought the reassessment of historical figures to the fore. It has raised questions about whom we choose to venerate; how historical narratives form; and whether it is best to erase problematic figures from the historical record, present a new interpretation on them, or attempt to be as unbiased as possible by contemporary attitudes when regarding them. Readers will learn more about this timely and complicated issue through a wide range of perspectives"--Provided by publisher.