The Beginning of Infinity

Explanations That Transform the World

By David Deutsch

Every day, we reap the rewards of substantial advancements in scientific theories and practical applications. What sparked this wave of progress?

In "The Beginning of Infinity" (2011), which explores the essential areas of science and philosophy, physicist David Deutsch presents the idea that progress stems from a singular human endeavor: our pursuit of explanations. This relentless drive for understanding unleashes endless possibilities for advancement, positioning knowledge as the gateway to boundless future developments.

About the author

David Deutsch, a seminal figure in quantum physics, resides and contributes to the academic community in Oxford, serving as a visiting professor of physics since 1999. In recognition of his significant contributions, he received the Institute of Physics' Paul Dirac Prize and Medal in 1998, a prestigious accolade in the realm of theoretical physics.

Discover the Unstoppable Force of Knowledge

An effective explanation can bring clarity, making everything click into place, but its impact extends far beyond that. Explanations don't merely illuminate; they form the foundation of all human knowledge and, consequently, our progress. Essentially, explanations shape our world.

In these chapters, embark on an exploration through the domains of science and culture to uncover how knowledge is created and refined, and how this continual evolution fosters limitless progress—what's termed the beginning of infinity.

You'll explore:

• why your senses alone cannot confirm the sun's rise tomorrow;

• the surprising similarity between a clever joke and a gene; and

• the role of memes in shaping cultural landscapes.

Theories and Experience Shape Our Understanding of Knowledge

No human has ever stepped on the surface of a star, let alone ventured into its core. Yet, scientists have profound insights about the events happening deep within stars, light years away.

How do they achieve this?

It's because gaining knowledge isn't solely about experiencing.

Empiricism suggests that all our knowledge stems from sensory experience. However, this perspective is flawed. According to empiricists, our minds start as blank slates, merely recording sensory experiences. This implies we are merely passive receivers of knowledge, not its creators.

Contrary to this empiricist stance, our understanding isn't just built on individual observations. For instance, while you've witnessed the sun rise daily, your certainty of its rise tomorrow isn't based solely on these observations. If it were, a cloudy day might lead you to conclude the sun isn't rising since you can't see it!

Moreover, appearances can be misleading. For example, despite feeling stationary, the Earth is actually rotating.

Thus, while experience plays a crucial role in science, it isn't the primary source of knowledge. If it were, our understanding of the stars would be limited to what we observe in the night sky.

Instead, theories and conjectures are the real wellsprings of our knowledge. Consider the stars again: the fact that their cores contain energy sources equivalent to billions of power plants is something we infer from theory, not direct observation.

These scientific theories, born from conjectures and speculation, are refined through experiments and observations, allowing us to test and validate them.