Although classical physics provides fairly simple explanations for a wide range of phenomena, it clearly fails to describe some of the subtler workings of nature. As a result, there is widespread agreement among scientists that the Newtonian paradigm is inadequate, and must be replaced by a more sophisticated view of reality. This book examines what such an outlook might entail, and explains why we need to reevaluate some of our most deeply ingrained beliefs about the world we live in. A distinguishing feature of this book is that it combines insights from chaos theory, metamathematics, quantum mechanics, and the theory of relativity, which are seldom (if ever) united under a single title. What binds these seemingly disparate disciplines together is the recognition that each of them reveals certain counterintuitive aspects of nature, and suggests that human knowledge is inherently limited. In that respect, this book represents a natural “technical companion†to Truth, Beauty, and the Limits of Knowledge: A Path from Science to Religion (University Readers, 2012), which examines the philosophical and theological implications of modern science.
Dr. Aleksandar Zecevic is a Professor of Electrical Engineering at Santa Clara University, and Associate Dean for Graduate Studies. His research interests include graph theoretic decomposition algorithms, electric power systems, and the control of complex dynamic systems. Some of his most important results in these fields are summarized in his recent book: Control of Complex Systems: Structural Constraints and Uncertainty(Springer, 2010). Over the past 15 years, Dr. Zecevic has also done a considerable amount of work in the area of science and religion. His two latest books: Truth, Beauty, and the Limits of Knowledge: A Path from Science to Religion and The Unknowable and the Counterintuitive: The Surprising Insights of Modern Science are devoted to this topic.
