Life is Simple: How Occam's Razor Set Science Free And Unlocked the Universe

Life is Simple is a fascinating history of science that shows how the search for simplicity by a thirteenth-century monk led to the emergence of the modern world. It highlights the human passion, curiosity, mistakes, and struggles of those who were inspired by Occam's razor to create the modern world and shows that the principle of simplicity is as relevant today as ever.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 384 pages
Publication date: 07 July 2022
Publisher: John Murray Press

The most captivating and delightful history of science in recent years has been The Spectator. This remarkable work of science literature stands as one of the finest I have encountered in the past decade. Life is Simple, authored by Paul Davies, unveils the extraordinary tale of how a thirteenth-century monk's pursuit of simplicity paved the way for the emergence of the modern world.

We commence our journey in the tumultuous era of the medieval friar, William of Occam, who first articulated the principle that the simplest solution is often the most effective. This fundamental theory, known as Occam's razor, cut through the dense undergrowth of medieval metaphysics, clearing the path for the birth of modern science. We trace the razor's influence through the hands of the giants of science, from Copernicus to Kepler, Galileo, Newton, Darwin, Einstein, Rubin, and Higgs. Its remarkable success suggests that we inhabit the simplest possible habitable universe, bolstering the revolutionary theory that our cosmos has undergone an evolutionary process.

By delving into the profound human passion, curiosity, errors, and struggles of those who were inspired by Occam's razor to shape the modern world, Johnjoe McFadden offers fresh perspectives on the true essence of science. Moreover, he underscores the timeless relevance of the principle of simplicity, which remains as vital today as ever before.

Weight: 268g
Dimension: 128 x 197 x 27 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781529364958