Theory and Practice of Contrast : Integrating Science, Art and Philosophy

The book Theory and Practice of Contrast completes, corrects and integrates the foundations of science and humanities, which include: theory of art, philosophy (aesthetics, epistemology, ontology, axiology), cognitive science, theory of information, theory of complexity and physics. Through the integration of these distant disciplines, many unresolved issues in contemporary science have been clarified or better understood, among others: defining impact (contrast) and using this definition in different fields of knowledge; understanding what beauty/art is and what our aesthetic preferences depend on; deeper understanding of what complexity and information are in essence, and providing their general definitions. Complexity means integration, value and goodness - concepts that seem to be neglected today.

The book also has a high degree of integration/complexity, although each chapter introduces a new issue. The last chapter: "Binary Model of the Universe" draws attention to the need for including in physics the analysis of our mind and the resulting new possibilities, which include the mentioned (digital) model of the universe. Despite the difficult issues raised here, this study is written in accessible language and may be interesting not only for scientists and academics.

Mariusz Stanowski graduated from Warsaw University of Technology (1974), and Fine Arts Academy in Warsaw (1979), where he worked later as an academic teacher and designer. Currently he is a visual artist and an independent researcher. His scientific research is situated on the borderline between humanities and natural sciences, including: philosophy, art theory, cognitive science, theory of information/complexity and physics. As an artist, through paintings, defined as deconstructed, he tries to express the idea of creativity. He has exhibited in Poland and abroad, including Vikingsberg Museum of Modern Art, (Helsingborg, Sweden), Charlottenborg Palace (Kobenhavn, Danmark), and the Visual Art Museum - School of Visual Arts (New York, USA).