Information and the Nature of Reality - From Physics to Metaphysics

From quantum to biological and digital, here eminent scientists, philosophers and theologians chart various aspects of information.

List of contents

1. Introduction: does information matter?; Paul Davies and Niels Henrik Gregersen; Part I. History: 2. From matter to materialism ... and (almost) back Ernan McMullin; 3. Unsolved dilemmas: the concept of matter in the history of philosophy and in contemporary physics Philip Clayton; Part II. Physics: 4. Universe from bit Paul Davies; 5. The computational universe Seth Lloyd; 6. Minds and values in the quantum universe Henry Pierce Stapp; Part III. Biology: 7. The concept of information in biology John Maynard Smith; 8. Levels of information: Shannon-Bolzmann-Darwin Terrence W. Deacon; 9. Information and communication in living matter Bernd-Olaf Küppers; 10. Semiotic freedom: an emerging force Jesper Hoffmeyer; 11. Care on earth: generating informed concern Holmes Rolston; Part IV. Philosophy and Theology: 12. The sciences of complexity - a new theological resource? Arthur Peacocke; 13. God as the ultimate informational principle Keith Ward; 14. Information, theology and the universe John F. Haught; 15. God, matter, and information: towards a Stoicizing Logos christology Niels Henrik Gregersen; 16. What is the 'spiritual body'? Michael Welker; Index.

About the author

Paul Davies is Director of the Beyond Center for Fundamental Concepts in Science and Co-Director of the Cosmology Initiative, both at Arizona State University. He is a passionate science communicator and has won several awards for his work, including the 2002 Michael Faraday Prize from the Royal Society for promoting science to the public.Niels Henrik Gregersen is Professor of Systematic Theology and Co-Director of the Centre of Naturalism and Christian Semantics, both at the University of Copenhagen. He has won several international research awards, including one from the John Templeton Foundation for work on the constructive interface between science and religion.

Product details

• Authors: Paul Davies, Paul (Arizona State University) Gregersen Davies, Paul Gregersen Davies, Paul Davies & Niels Henrik Gregersen
• Assisted by: Paul Davies (Editor), Paul (Arizona State University) Davies (Editor), Niels Henrik Gregersen (Editor), Niels Henrik (University of Copenhagen) Gregersen (Editor)
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press ELT
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 15.05.2014
• EAN: 9781107684539
• ISBN: 978-1-107-68453-9
• No. of pages: 506
• Series: Canto Classics; Canto Classics
• Subjects: Guides > Nature; Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > Natural sciences (general); NATURE / General, popular science, SCIENCE / History, SCIENCE / Philosophy & Social Aspects, Philosophy of Science, natural history, History of Science, Nature and the natural world: general interest