The World's Best Book Summaries
Why don’t all existentialist philosophers embrace absurdism? What do they advocate instead? Existentialist philosopher Albert Camus contends that life is absurd. But, according to his fellow existentialists Fyodor Dostoyevsky and Søren Kierkegaard, absurdism should be rejected; there’s a better way to face life. Keep reading to learn Camus’s argument, the counterarguments by other philosophers, and Camus’s rebuttals.
Did J. Robert Oppenheimer support the use of the atomic bomb? Did he ever change his mind? In American Prometheus, Kai Bird and Martin Sherwin provide a comprehensive biography of J. Robert Oppenheimer, best known for developing the atomic bomb that wrought destruction on Japan in World War II. They discuss his arguments for the permissibility of bombing Japan and his attitude afterward. Keep reading to learn about the views of J. Robert Oppenheimer on Japan’s fate in the war.
How can symmetry lead to scientific discoveries? What might symmetry imply about the universe? Theoretical physicist Michio Kaku describes himself as agnostic. But, he finds it amazing that all the laws of physics can be summarized succinctly and that they display such symmetry. For him, the mathematical beauty of the laws of physics opens the door to the possibility that there’s a grand design. Keep reading to learn why Kaku repeatedly points to symmetry in mathematics in his book The God Equation.
Was Robert Oppenheimer a communist? Was he actually a member of the Communist Party? In American Prometheus, Kai Bird and Martin Sherwin examine the claims that scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer was a communist. They explain that his political activism and connections led to allegations of Communist Party membership. Read more to learn what Bird and Sherwin learned and concluded.
How did people react to Albert Camus’s philosophy of the absurd? Why did some think that suicide seemed like a reasonable response? According to Albert Camus, suicide isn’t the answer. In The Myth of Sisyphus, Camus draws on existentialist theory to argue that humans are doomed to an absurd condition. He asserts that, rather than surrendering to this belief via suicide, you should derive fulfillment from your brief existence. Continue reading to learn more about Camus’s views on suicide in the context of the absurd.
What is the Standard Model of physics? How close is it to a unified theory? What’s it missing? Scientists have yet to figure out the unifying theory—what theoretical physicist Michio Kaku calls “the God Equation.” But, physicists have made a great deal of progress using an intermediate step toward that theory. They refer to it as the Standard Model. Keep reading to understand the Standard Model, what it tells us about the universe, and what it doesn’t explain.
What did J. Robert Oppenheimer discuss with Haakon Chevalier? Why did Oppenheimer lie to the FBI about it? When J. Robert Oppenheimer was fighting to keep his security clearance after World War II, the Chevalier incident threatened to sink his efforts—and his career. Biographers Kai Bird and Martin Sherwin explain the affair in their 2006 book American Prometheus. Continue reading to learn about the intriguing Chevalier incident.
Does it ever feel like life is just, well, ridiculous? What does Albert Camus mean by absurdity? According to Albert Camus, absurdity defines our lives. He observes that we search for meaning and purpose and ask huge questions about our existence. But, for all our searching and asking, we come up with just beliefs, theories, and hopes—and always come up short of certainty. Read more to learn about Camus’s philosophy of the absurd.
Why did the Atomic Energy Commission want to revoke J. Robert Oppenheimer’s security clearance? How did the drama unfold, and how did it end? J. Robert Oppenheimer was a scientist. But, he had political enemies who, time and time again, raised concerns over his apparent ties with—and leanings toward—communism. This all came to a head in 1953 when his security clearance, and therefore his career, came under threat. Continue reading to learn about Oppenheimer’s security clearance hearing.
What problems of science did Einstein solve? How did he push the quest for a unified theory forward? For centuries, scientists have looked for a single theory that would unify different fields of science, providing one equation that gives us a complete understanding of the universe. In The God Equation, theoretical physicist Michio Kaku discusses Albert Einstein’s contributions to the quest. Continue reading to learn about Einstein and unified theory.