No Way: The Nature of the Impossible

Philip J. Davis,David Park

ISBN 10: 0716719665 / ISBN 13: 9780716719663

Published by W. H. Freeman November 1988, 1988

About this Item

0716719665 Minor thumbing, light sticker residue to cover, else tight and clean.

Seller Inventory # 167271

Bibliographic Details

• Title: No Way: The Nature of the Impossible
• Publisher: W. H. Freeman November 1988
• Publication Date: 1988
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0716719665
• ISBN 13: 9780716719663
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: Very Good
• Seller catalogs:
  • 12-ESSAYS

About this title

Synopsis

Essays explore the concept of the impossible in mountaineering, biology, medicine, chemistry, computer science, technology, physics, mathematics, law, politics, economics, education, music, and philosophy

From Publishers Weekly

Impossibility is a concept of which one should be wary. With the discovery of carnivorous mushrooms (one species eats worms) and square bacteria, most biologists would hesitate to deny the possibility that any conceivable species could exist. Turning to mathematics, parallel lines can intersect in some geometrical systems; the seemingly impossible, time and again, is converted into a useful, logical system. This collection of essays opens with a mountain climber's attempt to scale the west ridge of Mt. Everest, "enormous symbol of the death of the impossible." In that adventurous spirit, the contributors explore the idea of impossibility in such fields as music, poetry, technology, government, child-rearing, law, philosophy and medicine. Combining literary elegance with startling insights, these essays lead the reader to exclaim, with Tertullian, "It is certain because it is impossible."
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.