Modern Cosmology and Philosophy

"...engaging…a fascinating mix of opinion and scientific/philosophic discussion...quite readable and enjoyable...a book that should be in one’s library."-Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith Did the universe originate from a "big bang" as argued by leading astrophysicists and others? Or does some other theory more accurately describe its beginnings? Are there other forms of life in our universe? What about other universes? Was our universe specially formed to support life? Does our universe have a purpose? What are the conditions under which life begins, evolves, and how does it become extinct?

These questions propel Modern Cosmology & Philosophy as the leading text in this hotly debated area where science and philosophy meet. Edited with an introduction by noted scholar John Leslie, this volume offers superb selections on modern cosmology, relativistic theories of the universe, the Big Bang, the problem of God and creation, cosmology and verifiability, coincidences, origins and evolution, multiple universe theories, infinity, chaos, life forms, the end of time, and the limits of our knowledge.

This volume includes work by H. Bondi, William Lane Craig, Paul Davies, R. H. Dicke, G. F. R. Ellis, Stephen Jay Gould, Adolf Grunbaum, Heinz R. Pagels, Sir Martin Rees, Quentin Smith, Richard Swinburne, and others.

Edited with an introduction by noted scholar John Leslie, this volume offers superb selections by leaders in their respective fields on modern cosmology, relativistic theories of the universe, the Big Bang, the problems of God and creation, cosmology and verifiability, coincidences, the origin and evolution of the universe, multiple universe theories, infinity, chaos, life forms, the end of time, and the limits of our knowledge.

Booknews

The second edition of the 1990 book features 26 contributions discussing such issues as relativistic theories of the universe, the Big Bang, the problems of God and creation, cosmology and verifiability, coincidences, the origin and evolution of the universe, multiple universe theories, infinity, chaos, life forms, the end of time, and the limits of our knowledge. Many are accessible to the general reader. No index. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

John Leslie (Guelph, Ontario) is professor emeritus of philosophy at the University of Guelph, and is a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada.