| Reviewer : |
Erick Ramirez |
| Ave Rating : |
3.0000 for 2 reviews |
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| Title : |
The Physics of Star Trek |
Rating : |
 |
| Writers : |
Lawrence M. Krauss |
Year : |
1995 |
| Review : |
A decent book that is mostly about the limits of current physics that uses Star Trek as an dominant example of possible future technology. Of course the ultimate pronouncement of feasibility isn't in this book even when Krauss says it is. For example if he says something is impossible (i.e. see the transporter) he really should mean impossible given the current understanding of physics. No, I'm not crazy, I just know enough about the philosophy of science to worry about making claims about possibility and impossibility given the limits of current knowledge (will the physics of the 2300's remotely resemble the physics of today or will they look back on our knowledge the way we look at the science of the 1500's? Krauss seems to assume the former). I don't mean to be a horse's ass here. I reccomend this book, it is definately good for a read by any trekkie who realizes that there is as much fiction as science in the trek universe. |
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| Title : |
The Metaphysics of Star Trek |
Rating : |
|
| Writers : |
Richard Hanley |
Year : |
1997 |
| Review : |
It is a decent introduction to popular philosophical problems. Covers everything from problems of consciousness (The measure of a man) to problems with personal identity (tuvix, the transporter). This is the bread and butter of philosophical metaphysics and makes for a good introduction to anyone that ever stopped to think about whether you, the person reading this review, actually continues to exist in any meaningful way when you're taken apart at the molecular level and re-assembled. Why 3-stars? Sometimes the level of analysis isn't as rigorous as I would have liked and many views (which readers may have found attractive) are described too briefly for my taste. I highly recommend this book. |
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