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Godel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid
 

Godel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid

by Douglas R. Hofstadter

Douglas Hofstadter’s book is concerned directly with the nature of “maps” or links between formal systems. However, according to Hofstadter, the formal system that underlies all mental activity transcends the system that supports it. If life can grow out of the formal chemical substrate of the cell, if consciousness can emerge out of a formal system of firing neurons, then so too will... (read more)

Top tags: science,  philosophy,  mathematics,  cognitive science,  nonfiction (all tags)

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Other Reviews

Amazon Reviews (5)
 

Most Helpful Reviews

Liked It

2 of 2 members found this review helpful.
nickdmax
  • Rated 5 stars

“This is one of those books that takes you by surprise. It is not a mathematics book (though it talks about mathematics, and meta-mathematics), it is not a philosophy book (though it just may change the way you view the world around you), it is not a computer science book (yet it has some very profound things to say in that area), it is not even a cognitive science book -- it is a musing, a study of ideas braided together and set out for you to absorb though mental capillary action. The book...”

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Didn’t Like It

Hilda
  • Rated 2 stars

“Very "hard to read" book. It has some really interesting bits, and some painfully boring bits. It's not overly "user friendly" as far as books go.”

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Community:
  • Rated 4.466276 stars
Amazon:
  • Rated 4.7 stars
  

Newest Comments

  • Shama B

    shama b said:

    “i love the conversation between achilles and tortoise where a flag is moving.. Achilles says that the flag is moving while tortoise says the wind is moving. Zeno comes in and says: Your mind is moving"...”

    posted Thursday, December 6 2007
  • the broxtermonster

    the broxtermonster said:

    “I haven't read this one myself, but I've heard it's pretty awesome. Have you finished it? Did it blow your mind?”

    posted Sunday, November 4 2007 ( | view 1 reply )
  • Marilyn M

    marilyn m said:

    “A great thought-provoker. Probably time to re-read it!”

    posted Sunday, November 4 2007
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