Abstract
This chapter attempts to sort out the various difficulties that have haunted the concepts of order, entropy, design, and information in their relation to cosmological theories. In this effort, I utilize Plato’s tripartite organization of the forms of order to more precisely delineate the constraints and dispositions of a possible unified model. I also rely on the mathematical interpretation of Plato’s model by Leibniz to reconstruct Plato’s Pythagorean vision for modernity.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Notes
- 1.
The following arguments are also reviewed in a paper that will be part of a CAS Conference in October 2011.
- 2.
Ivar Ekeland, The Best of All Possible Worlds, Mathematics and Destiny (Chicago, 2007), p. 55.
- 3.
p 73.
- 4.
Michael Stoltzner, “The Principle of Least Action as the Logical Empiricist’s Shibboleth,” Studies in the History and Philosophy of Modern Physics 34 (2003), pp. 285–318.
- 5.
Ibid., p 294.
- 6.
p 289.
- 7.
The hypothesis in this section has been presented in greater detail in a paper, “The Optimal and the Necessary in Leibniz’ Mathematical Framing of the Compossible,” presently in publication.
- 8.
Gottfried Leibniz, Philosophical Papers and Letters (Netherlands, 1989), ed. L. Loemker, p. 487.
- 9.
G. W. Leibniz, Philosophical Essays, (Indianapolis, 1989), p. 150.
- 10.
Ibid.
- 11.
Paul Schrecker, “Leibniz and the Timaeus,” Review of Metaphysics, 4: 495–505.
Bibliography
Bak P (1996) How nature works. Copernicus, New York
Batterman R (2000) Multiple realizability and universality. Br J Philos Sci 51:115–145
Bhaskar R (1975) A realist theory of science. Leeds Books Ltd., Leeds
Blum HF (1970) Times arrow and evolution. Princeton University Press, Princeton
Brillouin L (2004) Science and information theory. Dover Phoenix, New York
Campbell J (1982) Grammatical man. Simon & Schuster Inc., New York
Casti J (1994) Complexification. Harper Collins, New York
Castoriades C (2002) On Plato’s statesman. Stanford University Press, Stanford
Eddington AS (1928) The nature of the physical world, The Gifford Lectures 1927. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge
Fox R (1988) Energy and the evolution of life. Freeman Press, New York
Gardner J (2003) Biocosm. Inner Ocean, Maui
Gates DM (1962) Energy exchange in the biosphere. Harper & Row, New York
Hall N (1993) Exploring chaos. Norton Publishers, New York
Hamilton E, Cairns H (eds) (1961) Plato collected dialogue. Princeton University Press, Princeton
Hanson NR (1965) Patterns of discovery. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge
Harroway DJ (1976) Crystals, fabrics, and fields. North Atlantic Books, Berkeley
Ho M-W (2003) The rainbow and the worm. World Scientific Publishers, Hackensack
Layzer D (1990) Cosmogenesis. Oxford University Press, Oxford
Leibniz GW (1951) Selections. In: Wiener P (ed) Discourse on metaphysics. Scribners, New York
Leibniz G (1989a) On the Radical Origination of Things, 1697. In: Loemker L (ed) Philosophical papers and letters. Kluwer, Dordrecht
Leibniz G (1989b) Philosophical essays. Hackett, Indianapolis
Lotka AJ (1956) Elements of mathematical biology. Dover Publishers, New York
Nicolis JS (1983) Dynamics of hierarchical systems. Springer, New York
Nicolis JS, Prigogine I (1989) Exploring complexity. Freeman and Co., New York
Pattee H (1973) Hierarchy theory. Braziller, New York
Plato (1981) Five dialogues. Grube GMA (trans). Hackett Publishers, Indianapolis
Plato (1986) Plato’s statesman. Bernardete S (trans). University of Chicago Press, Chicago
Plato (1992) Theaetetus. Williams B, Burnyeat M, Levett MJ (trans). Hackett Publishers, Indianapolis
Plato (1993) Sophist. White N (trans). Hackett Publishers, Indianapolis
Prigogine I (1984) Order out of chaos. Bantom Press, New York
Salthe S (1995) Evolving hierarchical systems. Columbia University Press, New York
Schneider ED, Sagan D (2006) Into the cool. University of Chicago Press, Chicago
Schrecker P (1951) Leibniz and the Timaeus. Rev Metaphys 4:495–505
Seife C (2006) Decoding the universe. Viking, New York
Singh J (1959) Great ideas of modern mathematics: their nature and use. Dover Publications, New York
Sole R, Goodwin B (2000) Signs of life. Basic Books, New York
Taylor JC (2001) Hidden unity in nature’s laws. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge
Ulanowicz RE, Kauffman SA (2009) Third window: natural life beyond Newton and Darwin. Templeton Foundation Press, West Conshocken
Vernadsky VI (1998) The biosphere. Copernicus Publications, New York
Von Baeyer, Hans Christian (1998) Maxwell’s demon. Random House, New York
Weber B, DePew DJ, Smith JD (1990) Entropy, information, and evolution. MIT Press, Cambridge, MA
Wiener N (1965) Cybernetics. MIT Press, Cambridge, MA
Zurek W (1990) Complexity, entropy, and the physics of information. Addison-Wesley, Redwood City
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2012 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Faller, M. (2012). Plato’s Pythagorean Cosmos: Order and Chaos in the Intelligence of Natural Design. In: Swan, L., Gordon, R., Seckbach, J. (eds) Origin(s) of Design in Nature. Cellular Origin, Life in Extreme Habitats and Astrobiology, vol 23. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-4156-0_4
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-4156-0_4
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-94-007-4155-3
Online ISBN: 978-94-007-4156-0
eBook Packages: Biomedical and Life SciencesBiomedical and Life Sciences (R0)