Cosmic Impressions
Details and Description
Description
Walter Thirring is an internationally renowned scientist who took part in and worked among those involved in many of the scientific developments of the twentieth century. His book, about the knowledge of the world as illuminated by twentieth century science, was originally published in German. This is the first English translation and is a book that is easily accessible to readers of popular science books and magazines.
Professor Thirring starts with cosmology as he examines scientific questions and theories concerning the intricacy of nature and the universe. He branches into an exposition of chaos and its connection to the macroscopic world, as well as to life sciences, touching on such diverse related subjects as the structure of the water molecule. He speaks of advances with which he was personally involved, and offers priceless vignettes of great scientists with whom he exchanged discussions, including Albert Einstein, Werner Heisenberg, Erwin Schrödinger, and Wolfgang Pauli.
His study of scientific theory and the intricacy of nature and the universe illuminates his argument for the role of a Creator. "Reflections on the creation of the universe lead to reflections about the creator," he writes. And arguing against atheism, he points out:
“When we are moved by a fantastic building, a cathedral or a mosque and have finally realized what is behind the glorious proportions, who would then say, ‘Now we don't need the architect anymore. There might not even be one, that could all just be the random product of circumstance.’”
Furthermore, in making humankind special in his creation, the Creator gave us the responsibility of seeking an understanding of creation and protecting it.
Tackling complex issues in science and religion, Professor Thirring presents a compelling argument for their synthesis. His tenure and influence in the scientific field make this argument even more compelling.
Table of Contents
Foreword by Cardinal Franz König / ix
Preface / xi
1. How the World Came into Being / 3
2. Is Everything Just Random Coincidence? / 33
3. How Were the Chemical Elements Created? / 49
4. Do You Know How Many Stars Are in the Sky? / 75
5. What Newton Suspected about Our Solar System / 105
6. Why Does Life Exist? / 129
7. The Anthropic Principle—Or Could You Patent the Universe? / 157
Appendix 1. Explanation of Symbols and Glossary / 165
Appendix 2. Powers of Ten / 169
Appendix 3. Lord Kelvin’s Estimate of the Sun’s Age Using Modern Terminology / 170
Appendix 4. How Much Does the Universe Weigh? / 173
Appendix 5. Antigravity at Work / 175
Appendix 6. A Game of Marbles / 177
Appendix 7. The Neutrino Rain of a Supernova / 180
Appendix 8. Taking Newton’s Vision Further / 181
Appendix 9. Wise Guy’s Homework Assignment / 183
Index / 185
Endorsements and Reviews
Reviews
De Numine
Considering the complexity of the subject matter in this book it is highly readable from a purely rational point of view; but the possibility of an external cosmic spirituality shaping the proceedings of the universe is often implicit in the way explanations are developed.
I would recommend this book as reading for anyone who is not intimidated by a little simplified mathematical formulation and who wants the scientific rationale behind the creation of stars and planets and the life that lives on them. The possibility of theistic participation is often implied but, overall, the question is left open to the reader’s interpretation. —Dr. Howard A. Jones, author of The Thoughtful Guide to God (2006) and The Tao of Holism (2008).
Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies—Vol. XXII, No. 1/2
Thirring's lucid and persuasive book conveys to the reader how to experience some of the enchantment and mystery in the world of the contemporary natural scientist. With this marvelous book
a broader educated public may recover the profound awareness of mystery and awe that the authors of the Old Testament books of Genesis and Isaiah experienced while beholding the majesty and mystery of the created world of nature. —Pamela Werrbach Proietti
Publishers Weekly
Reflecting on a lifetime of work in theoretical physics, Thirring tempers scientific progress with humility as he describes a universe where "[w]e’re able to explain a lot of things that previously appeared incomprehensible, but only by introducing new, strange, and wondrous explanations." From the conditions of the Big Bang to the life cycle of stars, planetary dynamics to the foundations of chemistry, Thirring observes that "at a crossroads the turn has always been taken that would ultimately allow the creation of human existence." Do all these coincidences suggest a Creator? Thirring believes so, even as he resists any suggestion that science can "prove the existence of God." The interplay between random processes and exquisitely finely tuned natural laws is simply too marvelous to attribute to chance. At turns brilliant, difficult, enthusiastic and quirky, the text breathes with Thirring’s passion for solving scientific and mathematical puzzles. In spite of efforts to make the material more accessible to nonspecialists (such as relocating some calculations to appendixes), the text remains highly technical at points. Vignettes of the author’s encounters with 20th-century physics greats like Einstein, Pauli, Heisenberg and Schrödinger provide a respite from the equations and illustrate the very human face of scientific discovery.
Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith—Vol. 59, No. 4
While the book is a difficult read, it is interesting and I am pleased to recommend it. —Glenn R. Morris
Theological Studies—Vol. 69, No. 2)
T[hirrings]’s book will appeal strongly to those with backgrounds in physics and mathematics … sufficiently readable for undergraduate majors in physics and mathematics. —Joseph A. Bracken, SJ, Xavier University
Theological Book Review—Vol. 20, No. 1
Thirring’s book is deeply interesting, but is a complex and often difficult read. As such, it may be best suited for readers already familiar with this intellectual terrain, rather than those seeking illumination on these matters for the first time. —Daniel Garner, University of Manchester
CERN Courier
[T]his volume is extremely informative for everybody.
I can only recommend this book. The author makes a considerable effort to avoid technicalities. As a scientist, I am not in a position to say whether someone without a scientific background could follow it, but I believe that it is ideally suited to engineers, especially accelerator engineers, who aren't always aware of the beautiful endeavour to which they contribute so much. —Andre Martin
Zygon—Vol. 44, No. 4
This book is an exploration of the structure of the laws of nature and of the consequences of that structure.
Reviews in Science and Religion
The book covers a wide range of topics from the origin of the universe to chaos theory and the reason why life is possible on Earth, so treatments are quite brief. But as I began by saying, they are engaging pitched for the general reader. This is definitely a good stocking-stuffer for the initial explorer of these topics.