Is Nature Supernatural? A Philosophical Explora

Mathematicaltruthsareoftensocompellingthatsomemathematicians，scientists，andphilosopherspositapurelynonmaterialrealmofeternaltruthsaccessibletothemindalone.MathematicalphysicistSimonAltmanncarefullycriticizesthisrevivalofdualisticphilosophyßlaPlatointhishighlystimulatingbook.Hasmathematicsandphysicsdiscoveredanewsupernaturalworld，oristhismentalcosmossimplyanoutgrowthofnaturalevolutionaryprocesses?ThisisthecrucialphilosophicalissuethatAltmannelucidates.Altmannprovidesathoroughphilosophicalbasistounderstandthemeaningofnaturallaw，thescientificmethod，andcausalityinscience.Hereviewstheclassicalapproachtotime，space，andthelawsofmechanics，anddiscussestheimplicationsofrelativitytheory.Keymodernconcepts，likerandomness，probability，andtime'sarrowareexplained，andthenatureofmathematicsandG÷del'stheoremsisdiscussedindepth.Amystery-freetreatmentofquantummechanics，Schr÷dinger'scat，andthefamousBellinequalitiesfollows.Healsoassessesthereactionsofvariousphilosophicalschoolstothesedevelopments-idealism，physicalism，culturalrelativismandsocialconstructivism.Thebookconcludeswithafascinatingdialogueonscienceandbelief.EducatedlayreaderswillwelcomeAltmann'sengagingandlucidexposition.