The Accidental Universe _Alan Lightman
(Book Review)
Mr. Alan Lightman, serves the only dual faculty in science and humanities throws light upon our current understanding of the Universe. He refers to it an accident; which has turned everything into one i.e. The Accidental Universe.
In essay titled the accidental universe he mentions the possibility of Mulitverse, proposed by MIT theorist Alan Guth. This concept of Muliverse fits in the concurrent theories such as Theory of Everything, String Theory and Eternal Inflation. Mr Lightman describes the thought process which has stretched from across the concept of Atom by ancient philosopher Democritus to recent Anthorpic principle proposed by Brandon Carter. He states accidental & incalculable nature of universe. Owing to this we the human race are lacking in the tool to fathom the magnitude of the universe. There are multiple universes intricately coiled within. He plumbs into the fleeting aspect of universe supported by second law of thermodynamics or the arrow of time. Universe cannot be gauged without taking into account of its spiritual facet. He expresses the limitation of science and checks for the other ways to reach at knowledge. This vague boundary between science and religion demands subjectivity and belief system.
He furthers the idea of the expanse of the universe referring to its ceaseless expansion. He mentions that although huge, beyond human imagination; the Higgs boson particles, electroweak theory generate evidence for symmetrical universe. To support this view, Mr Lightman has marshaled examples such as beehive, geometrical structures and images that we human being regard as deity. He points to our fundamental drive for the symmetry. He relates to laws, axioms and theories of the nature to show the regularities of the universe. However it follows the crazy and unpredictable natural phenomena. Mr Lightman asks the reader profound questions about multi-universe domains created in the virtual reality by our techno-selves. This appropriately titled disembodied universe is our inevitable future.
The accomplished academician, the fluent story teller and the theorist Mr Lightman draws back veils of our limited understanding of the universe. At the crossover of science, philosophy and religion reader relishes the intellectually rewarding essays penned by humanist Mr Lightman.
