Science of Can and Can't: A Physicist's Journey Through the Land of Counterfactuals

Chiara Marletto explores the potential of counterfactuals to reveal the full scope of our universe, breaking down barriers to knowledge and forming a more complete picture.

Format: Hardback
Length: 272 pages
Publication date: 04 May 2021
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

The field of counterfactuals, a groundbreaking new science, has the potential to unlock the full breadth and depth of our universe. While science has traditionally focused on what is true and actual, there exists a vast realm of properties that relate not only to what is but also to what could be. This is the science of possibility and impossibility.

Chiara Marletto, a leading pioneer in this field, delves into the extraordinary promise that counterfactuals hold for addressing pressing technological challenges, such as developing next-generation processors and designing AI. By exploring both the actual and the possible, Marletto goes beyond the surface, revealing how counterfactuals can break down barriers to knowledge and create a more comprehensive, rich, and fulfilling understanding of the universe itself.

Counterfactuals enable us to envision alternative scenarios and outcomes, allowing us to test the robustness of our beliefs and theories. By considering what might have happened if certain events or conditions were different, we can gain insights into the underlying mechanisms and processes that shape our world. This can lead to new discoveries, innovations, and breakthroughs in various fields, such as physics, biology, and social sciences.

Moreover, counterfactuals can help us better understand the limitations and biases of our own thinking. By exploring alternative perspectives and outcomes, we can become more aware of our own assumptions and prejudices, and work towards overcoming them. This can lead to a more open-minded and inclusive worldview, where we are better equipped to appreciate the diversity and complexity of the world around us.

In conclusion, the field of counterfactuals is a transformative and exciting area of research that holds immense promise for unlocking the mysteries of our universe. By exploring both the actual and the possible, we can gain a deeper understanding of the world around us, break down barriers to knowledge, and create a more complete and rewarding picture of the universe itself.

Weight: 466g
Dimension: 162 x 242 x 28 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780241310946