hsf@hlexa.UUCP (Henry Friedman) (04/04/84)
Davies' latest, "God and the New Physics," is impressive. Far from another wooly comparison of quantum physics to Eastern religion, it examines traditional questions and arguments about God in the light of 20th century science and cosmology. Skeptical science readers will, in fact, probably find it more to their liking than the faithful, as it is not at all biased toward traditional religious viewpoints. The chapter on free will versus determinism is especially thorough and well-written. And unlike earlier Davies offerings, this book includes not only extensive references and footnotes, but also a very helpful and thorough bibliography. He was especially impressed with Hofstadter's "Godel, Escher, Bach" and uses the concept of "strange loops" to examine the relationship between mind and brain and consciousness/objective reality. Included in the slightly more daring portions is further support for the Everett many worlds interpretation of quantum physics. (See his earlier book "Other Worlds".)