David Deutsch: The Beginning of Infinity

Throughout history, mankind has struggled to understand life's mysteries, from the mundane to the seemingly miraculous. In this important new book, David Deutsch, an award-winning pioneer in the field of quantum computation, argues that explanations have a fundamental place in the universe. They have unlimited scope and power to cause change, and the quest to improve them is the basic regulating principle not only of science but of all successful human endeavor. Taking us on a journey through every fundamental field of science, as well as the history of civilization, art, moral values, and the theory of political institutions, Deutsch tracks how we form new explanations and drop bad ones, explaining the conditions under which progress — which he argues is potentially boundless — can and cannot happen.

In his previous book, The Fabric of Reality, Deutsch described the four deepest strands of existing knowledge — the theories of evolution, quantum physics, knowledge, and computation — arguing jointly they reveal a unified fabric of reality. In this new book, he applies that worldview to a wide range of issues and unsolved problems, from creativity and free will to the origin and future of the human species. Filled with startling new conclusions about human choice, optimism, scientific explanation, and the evolution of culture, The Beginning of Infinity is a hugely ambitious and highly original book that will become a classic of its kind.

“Only rarely do I read a book and feel that I am in the presence of true brilliance. I had that feeling throughout the physicist David Deutsch’s exploration of the nature of knowledge, reality, beauty, progress, and culture. Deutsch avoids intellectual cliches and scientific conventional wisdom, reasoning everything out from first principles, usually persuasively, always provocatively.” (Steven Pinker)

***

I would like to open a discussion on the book The Beginning of Infinity by David Deutsch. This contemporary work builds off of Karl Popper’s epistemological ideas to create a dense, broad, book with many novel ideas, and explanations in every chapter.

In the spirit of the book's philosophy, read the chapter summaries (1 or 2 pages at the end of every chapter) and find whatever problem, issue, or topic that most interests you and focus on "solving" that — investigate further in whatever way you find fun and effective and then bring your thoughts to the group.

You can view and download a pdf of the book here - https://www.daftarche.com/attachments/english-31/3939d1397513247-book-reviews-beginning-infinity.pdf

Or purchase it here - https://www.amazon.ca/Penguin-Classics-Beginning-Infinity-Deutsch/dp/0140278168/

ALSO, please read the following Nautilus article and watch the YouTube video on Fallibilism.
— http://nautil.us/issue/2/uncertainty/why-its-good-to-be-wrong (NOTE: Ignore the subtitle that was added by the editor — it is NOT good to be wrong.)
— https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXi5-4to-hc

Let me know in messages or comments if you want me to read anything, or want to start a dialogue before we meet! I am more than happy to go back and forth about anything related.

Thanks!

***

Other Resources:

Some background information on David Deutsch - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Deutsch

Some YouTube commentary on the book - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsE51P_yPQCRzJItkoRzu9HOGjYeFkfSB