Beyond Reason

Are some scientific problems insoluble? Are there aspects of the universe, such as the true nature of consciousness, that will forever be beyond the grasp of science? In Beyond Reason, internationally acclaimed maths and science author A.K. PRAISE FOR A.K. DEWDNEY'S PREVIOUS WORKS 200% of Nothing "It is impossible to read this timely, important book without enjoyment and eye-opening enlightment." -Martin Gardner "In today's world 'innumeracy' is an even greater danger than illiteracy, and is perhaps more common.... I hope that this wise and witty book will provide cures where they are possible, and warnings where they are necessary. It's also a lot of fun. I can guarantee that 100 percent." -Arthur C. Clarke Yes, We Have No Neutrons "We need more books like this-especially if they're this much fun to read."-Wired "Written with wit and a touch of pathos-and sure to please science lovers." -Publishers Weekly The Planiverse "It's not everyone who gets to design a universe from scratch but A.K. Dewdney has done just that."-The Boston Globe "Once you have been captivated by the two-dimensional Ardean world, the problems facing its difficult technology haunt you, begging for more solutions. Arde easily becomes a puzzle without end." -The New York Times A Mathematical Mystery Tour "Dewdney spins an absorbing narrative...an amenable introduction to a difficult subject." -Publishers Weekly A mind-bending excursion to the limits of science and mathematics Are some scientific problems insoluble? In Beyond Reason, internationally acclaimed math and science author A. K. Dewdney answers this question by examining eight insurmountable mathematical and scientific roadblocks that have stumped thinkers across the centuries, from ancient mathematical conundrums such as "squaring the circle," first attempted by the Pythagoreans, to G?del's vexing theorem, from perpetual motion to the upredictable behavior of chaotic systems such as the weather. A. K. Dewdney, PhD (Ontario, Canada), was the author of Scientific American's "Computer Recreations" column for eight years. He has written several critically acclaimed popular math and science books, including A Mathematical Mystery Tour (0-471-40734-8); Yes, We Have No Neutrons (0-471-29586-8); and 200% of Nothing (0-471-14574-2).