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The Universe is a complicated place. While we're closer to understanding a few of the many mysteries of the Universe, there are still many that we will never fully understand. Scientists, mathematicians, cosmologists, astronomers, philosophers and theologists will continue to explore and ponder the deep wells of unknowns in the Universe until the end of the human race. One of the most widely contested and theorized mystery of the Universe is the creation of life. With many religious theorems and scientific proofs seeking to explain life, Marcelo Gleiser, Appleton Professor of Natural Philosophy and professor of physics and astronomy at Dartmouth College, takes a contemplative and philosophical angle on the creation of the Universe - from the early seconds of the big bang to life itself - in A Tear at the Edge of Creation: A Radical New Vision For Life in an Imperfect Universe.
From the ancient Greeks to modern science, there has been a constant unified Theory of Everything which exacts a supposed elegance and symmetry that science and others have tried to explain. Einsten's Theory of Relativity, the Theories of Quantum Mechanics have attempted to not only connect the large pieces of the Universe to one another, but the small pieces as well in the ultimate quest to define the Universe.
Starting with his own influences growing up in Brazil and how his early life shaped his views of the Universe, to the words of the late Carl Sagan to explain belief and the idea of Oneness in the Universe, Geiser makes no illusions to the fact that belief plays a huge part in accepting any alternate theories. Going through the big bang to the creation of life Gleiser pays homage to the great cosmologists and scientists before him with a thorough explanation of their theories and how they play into the greater picture.
Gleiser supposes that without these imperfections and mistakes in the Universe, life itself would not exist. Without asymmetry all we would have is a smooth, exact Universe with either everything the same or nothing at all. Therefore it is through these little mistakes in the genetic code of life, the Universe and everything that has brought us to this point in time.
In Tear, Gleiser defines this scientific history, but then supposes another alternate theory - that perhaps the Universe isn't as perfect as we give it credit for. Perhaps instead of perfect symmetry and exactness, instead the Universe is full of imperfections. In his quest to understand what makes us human and what is humanity he goes from the unification school of thought to the doubter, questioning the reasoning before him in a contemplative and hypothetical philosophical manner.
Using a tome of reference material (all cited in the appendix of course) Gleiser presents the material inn ordered fashion, but dumbs it down just enough for the layman to follow and comprehend. His personal, heartfelt tone emphasizes the material and the belief that the Universe is a myriad of particles and behavior in a universal blender. Gleiser plays off the God theory well, as well as using Darwinism to expand on certain points - such as the evident mutation in our DNA, making us all mutants in some way or another due to constant imperfections.
The Universe is a grand and mysterious place, to think that we know it all is egotistical at best. Gleiser offers some very interesting theories and suppositions as to our place in the Universe, while also striving to discover a deeper meaning in it all.
WIRED Whether you enjoy cosmology or philosophy, this book will make you think about the origins of the Universe, life and everything in between.
TIRED Very interesting read, just not engaging. Moves a bit slow at times.
