Description
Book SynopsisThis is a charming and insightful contribution to an understanding of the Science Wars between postmodernist humanism and science, driving toward a resolution of the mutual misunderstanding that has driven the controversy. It traces the root of postmodern theory to a debate on the foundations of mathematics, early in the 20th century then compares developments in mathematics to what took place in the arts and humanities, discussing issues as diverse as literary theory, arts, and artificial intelligence. This is a straight forward, easily understood presentation of what can be difficult theoretical concepts and demonstrates that a pattern of misreading mathematics can be seen on both the part of science and on the part of postmodern thinking. This is a humorous, playful yet deeply serious look at the intellectual foundations of mathematics for those in the humanities and is the perfect critical introduction to the bases of modernism and postmodernism for those in the sciences.
Trade ReviewThe book makes pleasant and interesting reading. * Mathematical Reviews *
Table of Contents1: Introduction 2: Around the Cartesian Circuit 2.1: Imagination 2.2: Intuition 2.3: Counting to One 3: Space Oddity and Linguistic Turn 4: Wound of Language 4.1: Being and Time Continuum 4.2: Language and Will 5: Beyond the Code 5.1: Medium of Free Becoming 5.2: Nonpresence of Identity 6: The Expired Subject 6.1: Empire of Signs 6.2: Mechanical Bride 7: The Vanishing Author 8: Say Hello to the Structure Bubble 8.1: Algebra of Language 8.2: Functionalism Chic 9: Don't Think, Look 9.1: Interpolating the Self 9.2: Language Games 9.3: Thermostats "R" Us 10: Postmodern Enigmas 10.1: Unspeakable Diffd'erance 10.2: Dysfunctionalism Chic Notes Select Bibliography Index
