Are there "natural laws" that govern the ways in which humans behave and organize themselves, just as there are physical laws that govern the motions of atoms and planets? Unlikely as it may seem, such laws now seem to be emerging from attempts to bring the tools and concepts of physics into the social sciences. These new discoveries are part of an old tradition. In the seventeenth century the philosopher Thomas Hobbes, dismayed by the impending civil war in England, decided that he would work out what kind of government was needed for a stable society. His solution sparked a new way of thinking about human behavior in looking for the "scientific" rules of society.
Adam Smith, Immanuel Kant, Auguste Comte, and John Stuart Mill pursued this idea from different political perspectives. But these philosophers lacked the tools that modern physics can now bring to bear on the matter. Philip Ball shows how, by using these tools, we can understand many aspects of mass human behavior. Once we recognize that we do not make most of our decisions in isolation but are affected by what others decide, we can start to discern a surprising and perhaps even disturbing predictability in our laws, institutions, and customs.
Lively and compelling, Critical Mass is the first book to bring these new ideas together and to show how they fit within the broader historical context of a rational search for better ways to live.
"Sinopsis" puede pertenecer a otra edición de este libro.
Philip Ball is the author of Life's Matrix (FSG, 2000); Bright Earth (FSG, 2002), a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award; and, most recently, The Devil's Doctor (FSG, 2006). He lives in London with his wife.
"Sobre este título" puede pertenecer a otra edición de este libro.
EUR 9,20 gastos de envío desde Estados Unidos de America a España
Destinos, gastos y plazos de envíoEUR 7,00 gastos de envío desde Estados Unidos de America a España
Destinos, gastos y plazos de envíoLibrería: ThriftBooks-Atlanta, AUSTELL, GA, Estados Unidos de America
Paperback. Condición: Very Good. No Jacket. May have limited writing in cover pages. Pages are unmarked. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less 1.4. Nº de ref. del artículo: G0374530416I4N00
Cantidad disponible: 1 disponibles
Librería: ThriftBooks-Dallas, Dallas, TX, Estados Unidos de America
Paperback. Condición: Good. No Jacket. Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less 1.4. Nº de ref. del artículo: G0374530416I3N00
Cantidad disponible: 1 disponibles
Librería: ThriftBooks-Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ, Estados Unidos de America
Paperback. Condición: Very Good. No Jacket. Former library book; May have limited writing in cover pages. Pages are unmarked. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less 1.4. Nº de ref. del artículo: G0374530416I4N10
Cantidad disponible: 1 disponibles
Librería: ThriftBooks-Atlanta, AUSTELL, GA, Estados Unidos de America
Paperback. Condición: Very Good. No Jacket. Former library book; May have limited writing in cover pages. Pages are unmarked. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less 1.4. Nº de ref. del artículo: G0374530416I4N10
Cantidad disponible: 1 disponibles
Librería: Books From California, Simi Valley, CA, Estados Unidos de America
paperback. Condición: Good. First Edition. first edition book. Nº de ref. del artículo: mon0003215859
Cantidad disponible: 1 disponibles
Librería: Better World Books: West, Reno, NV, Estados Unidos de America
Condición: Good. 1 Edition. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages. Nº de ref. del artículo: 469691-6
Cantidad disponible: 1 disponibles
Librería: Better World Books, Mishawaka, IN, Estados Unidos de America
Condición: Good. 1 Edition. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages. Nº de ref. del artículo: 469691-6
Cantidad disponible: 1 disponibles
Librería: Better World Books, Mishawaka, IN, Estados Unidos de America
Condición: Very Good. 1 Edition. Former library book; may include library markings. Used book that is in excellent condition. May show signs of wear or have minor defects. Nº de ref. del artículo: 4109892-75
Cantidad disponible: 1 disponibles
Librería: Better World Books, Mishawaka, IN, Estados Unidos de America
Condición: Good. 1 Edition. Former library book; may include library markings. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages. Nº de ref. del artículo: GRP92910480
Cantidad disponible: 1 disponibles
Librería: Ammareal, Morangis, Francia
Softcover. Condición: Très bon. Ancien livre de bibliothèque. Salissures sur la tranche. Ammareal reverse jusqu'à 15% du prix net de cet article à des organisations caritatives. ENGLISH DESCRIPTION Book Condition: Used, Very good. Former library book. Stains on the edge. Ammareal gives back up to 15% of this item's net price to charity organizations. Nº de ref. del artículo: F-039-657
Cantidad disponible: 1 disponibles