The Creative Power of ChanceDismissing chaos theory as a crutch, Remy Lestienne argues that chance is a real creative force. Using insights that evoke C. S. Peirce and others, Lestienne finds support in many scientific developments for the presence of true chance in the world. His presentation of the history of the concept of chance and its present role in science will appeal strongly to readers with an interest in science and those who look for chance in metaphysical issues. |
Contents
Introduction | 1 |
CLASSICAL CHANCE | 5 |
A Brief History of the Concept of Chance | 7 |
1859 The Twofold Intellectual Revolution of Darwin and Maxwell | 14 |
The Birth of Probability Theory | 27 |
The Probabilities of Causes | 35 |
CHANCE AND THE LIVING | 43 |
Variation and Selection Darwins Natural Chance | 45 |
Entropy and Information | 105 |
Quantum Indeterminism The Gap between the Real in itself and the Real in Practice | 115 |
Behind the Cosmological Rupture Lies Fundamental Chance | 124 |
FOR A PHILOSOPHY OF CHANCE | 133 |
Can We Unmask Chance? | 135 |
The Question of Freedom | 144 |
On the Joy of Not Knowing | 154 |
Conclusion | 163 |
Hereditys Lottery Chance and Genetics | 52 |
How Are Species Born? | 60 |
Immunological Darwinism or How Are Antibodies Born? | 69 |
Neural Darwinism or How Are Neutral Networks Formed? | 78 |
PHYSICAL CHANCE | 93 |
Entropy Order and Chance | 95 |
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Common terms and phrases
action potential aleatory allows antibodies antigens appearance atoms axon Bayes's theorem Bergson biological Boltzmann brain called causality causes cells century chains chromosomes classical complexity concept construction cosmological Costa de Beauregard Cournot d'Espagnat Darwin determinism deterministic disorder Émile Borel English-language version entropy epistemological evolution example existence fact function fundamental genes genetic endowment growth of entropy human idea indeterminism individual interpretation irreversibility Kierkegaard large numbers law of large Layzer Lestienne liberty linked living lymphocytes mathematical Maxwell measurement meiosis microscopic molecules natural chance natural selection negentropy nervous neural NEURAL DARWINISM neurons notion objective observed organization Paris particles phase space phenomena philosophers physical chance physicists Popper possible potential precisely prediction Prigogine principle priori prob probabilités probability theory problem proposed quantum mechanics question random reality René Thom retrodiction role scientific sequences species statistical temporal theorem thermodynamics thought tion universe variable variations