Description: One of life's most fundamental revelations is change. Presenting the fascinating view that pattern is the manifestation of change, this unique book explores the science, mathematics, and philosophy of change and the ways in which they have come to inform our understanding of the world. Through discussions on chance and determinism, symmetry and invariance, information and entropy, quantum theory and paradox, the authors trace the history of science and bridge the gaps between mathematical, physical, and philosophical perspectives. Change as a foundational concept is deeply rooted in ancient Chinese thought, and this perspective is integrated into the narrative throughout, providing philosophical counterpoints to customary Western thought. Ultimately, this is a book about ideas. Intended for a wide audience, not so much as a book of answers, but rather an introduction to new ways of viewing the world.
Brief description: Robert V. Moody is a mathematician and co-discoverer of the Kac-Moody algebras, significant in mathematics and physics. He is a co-winner of the Wigner Medal and a member of the Royal Society of Canada (1980). He was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1991 and was the Founding Scientific Director of the Banff International Research Station (2001). He has published more than 100 papers on Lie theory and long-range aperiodic order.