In this profound and innovative book, David Deutsch explores the farthest reaches of our current understanding of things, employing the Hotel Infinity, supernova stars, and the nature of optimism to instill in all of us admiration for what we have achieved—and the knowledge that this is just the beginning of humanity’s infinite potential.
David Deutsch argues that explanations are fundamental to understanding the universe, and improving them is the basis for successful human activity. The author takes us on a journey through the realms of science, the history of culture, art, moral values, and politics. In other words, he guides us on a journey through the entirety of the creative human imagination that constitutes what we call culture and civilization. Deutsch traces how we create new ‘good’ explanations and how we discard the ‘bad’ ones. Thus, he highlights the conditions that are prerequisites for achieving progress. Written in a vivid and accessible manner for the average reader, the book explores the deep interactions between the laws of nature, the human condition, what we call knowledge, and the possibilities for progress.