First published 1989
Wright takes readers into the minds of three influential thinkers who have shaped how we understand information and its role in existence. Edward Fredkin believes the universe operates as a vast computer, processing information at the most fundamental level. Edward O. Wilson sees information as the key to understanding biological systems and social behavior. Kenneth Boulding views information as central to economic and social organization. Wright examines how each scientist approaches questions of meaning and purpose through their respective lenses. The book traces how information functions across different scales of reality, from quantum mechanics to human societies. Wright shows how these three perspectives intersect and diverge in their attempts to explain the nature of reality itself. The work reveals how modern science grapples with ancient questions about purpose and meaning in an information-driven world.
Genres: science, philosophy, non-fiction, 21st-century, information-science, academic
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: intellectual-discourse, interdisciplinary-approach
Period: 21st Century
324 pages · Paperback · Harpercollins