Science and Human Experience: Values, Culture, and the Mind

Does science have limits? Where does order come from? Can we understand consciousness? Written by Nobel Laureate Leon N. Cooper, this book places pressing scientific questions in the broader context of how they relate to human experience. Widely considered to be a highly original thinker, Cooper has written and given talks on a large variety of subjects, ranging from the relationship between art and science, possible limits of science, to the relevance of the Turing test. These essays and talks have been brought together for the first time in this fascinating book, giving readers an opportunity to experience Cooper's unique perspective on a range of subjects. Tackling a diverse spectrum of topics, from the conflict of faith and science to whether understanding neural networks could lead to machines that think like humans, this book will captivate anyone interested in the interaction of science with society.

Leon N. Cooper is the Thomas J. Watson Senior Professor of Science at Brown University and Director of the Institute for Brain and Neural Systems. He has received numerous awards and prizes for his scientific achievements, most notably the 1972 Nobel Prize in Physics (with J. Bardeen and J. R. Schrieffer) for his studies on the theory of superconductivity.