No Way: The Nature of the Impossible

Ed. Philip J Davis and David Park

ISBN 10: 0716719665 / ISBN 13: 9780716719663

Published by W H Freeman, New York, 1987

About this Item

165 x 233 x 24mm. (xvi) + 325pp. No significant signs of age or use - apparently unopened and unread. All our 'Seller Images' show the actual item you will receive.

Seller Inventory # 007353

Bibliographic Details

• Title: No Way: The Nature of the Impossible
• Publisher: W H Freeman, New York
• Publication Date: 1987
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0716719665
• ISBN 13: 9780716719663
• Binding: Soft cover
• Condition: Near Fine

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.