ENGLISH

Nothing: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions)

By Frank Close

Book information

Publisher
Oxford University Press, USA
Year
2009
ISBN
0199225869, 9780199225866
LCC
QC6 .C588 2009
Open Library ID
OL24063232M
Language
english
Format
PDF
Filesize
1 MB (1282449 bytes)
Series
Very Short Introductions
Pages
177\177
Topic
Physics
Orientation
yes
Scanned
no
Time added
2010-05-31 15:29:46

Description

Granted, the series format does not make for inclusiveness. However, in my opinion any discussion of "nothing" which does not mention the early Greek philosopher Parmenides starts off irretrievably wrongfooted. I'm not absolutely sure about this point, since $9.56 (or even $7.16 for the Kindle edition) is not close enough to 'nothing' for me to throw that sum away on what seems to be a fatally incomplete book. Nor is this merely an empty issue about failing to drop a philosophically correct name or two: one cannot understand the Platonic and Pythagorean foundations of math and physics without a firm grounding in their respective views about the status of "not-being" and the void -- and those views are intimately intertwined with Parmenides' critique. This book, which judging by the index, mentions Thales at least twice but Parmenides not at all, strikes me as not enough ado about nothing.

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