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This Idea Must Die

Scientific Theories That Are Blocking Progress

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This Idea Must Die

Written by: John Brockman
Narrated by: David Colacci, Susan Ericksen
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About this listen

Each year John Brockman, publisher of Edge.org, challenges some of the world's greatest scientists, artists, and philosophers to answer a provocative question crucial to our time. In 2014 he asked 175 brilliant minds to ponder: What scientific idea needs to be put aside in order to make room for new ideas to advance? The answers are as surprising as they are illuminating.

In This Idea Must Die:

  • Steven Pinker dismantles the working theory of human behavior
  • Sherry Turkle reevaluates our expectations of artificial intelligence
  • Andrei Linde suggests that our universe and its laws may not be as unique as we think
  • Martin Rees explains why scientific understanding is a limitless goal
  • Nina Jablonski argues to rid ourselves of the concept of race
  • And much more.

Profound, engaging, thoughtful, and groundbreaking, This Idea Must Die will change your perceptions and understanding of our world today...and tomorrow.

©2015 Edge Foundation, Inc. (P)2015 Tantor Logic & Language Philosophy Physics Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Science

Critic Reviews

"Physics, statistics, robotics, linguistics, medicine--all are zestfully scrutinized in this exuberant, mind-blowing gathering of innovative thinkers." ( Booklist)
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This book falls into the trap of assuming that we have sufficient information to pass judgement on what is true and what is fiction. Countless people in the past have assumed that human knowledge is almost complete and but for a few loose ends, we can therefore lay out a path for human success. Without even the slightest idea as to why cancer, aging, respiratory ailments or human depression, which affects our society is present and what we can do about it, let alone answers as to what gravity is (still no good theory) or even why there is something and not nothing. This book is sadly just another collection of emotional opinions from a couple of minds in a world of incredible complexity and inter connectivity. There are more interesting books on this subject

Falls into the trap of judging truth

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