/sci/ - Science & Math

>>6182217
Mahler vs. Shostakovich. Who wins?

On a math related note, you read this?

About to start reading it, what's your opinion?

>not reading Hofstadter's masterpiece every day of your god damn life

What, are you a biologist or something?

by Douglas Hofstadter

Which question do you want answered?

I recommend this book. It is one of my favorites. It focuses on math, logic, cognition, and computer science.

Has anyone else read this? I'd like your opinions.

Hofstadter argues that meaning is inherent in messages, but doesn't almost everyone interpret things differently? A piece of art could mean sorrow for you, but joy for me, for example.

This whole book seems kind of far-fetched, in my opinion.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gödel,_Escher,_Bach

Any good books like GEB?

you just couldnt stop do you?

you have to keep digging in until you find it..

let the ultimate battle begin

So /sci/ this is my story.

Im taking this graduate level course in population dynamics right.. we had for homework to analyze some results that were mapped by the logistic map eq. At first we have to describe the behavior in the non-chaotic side of it, easy.. but the last 2 questions involve the chaotic part and explain its behavior, As a college graduate... i have a basic math background. So i, explained the answer thoroughly, at the level you may expect in a graduate level course.

So it was my turn to explain the last 2 questions and i start talking and describing what was happening, and then the professor shut me off. and said "WOWOWO HOLD IT..you are right.... but that's TOO ADVANCED for this class"
Needless to say, i stood there incredulous of what the professor was saying to me.
and i was thinking to my self
isnt this a graduate level course?
arent we supposed to be almost in the cutting edge?
How are we supposed to learn something meaningful if we dont know simple concepts of dynamics.. (bifurcation, fixed point etc.)

I didnt say anything tho, and then the professor told me to sit down.
He didnt said what was the answer he was expecting. and still i cant see other answer that doesnt involve bifurcation theory.
No wonder why the field of math biology is so left behind.

any thoughts?

btw: later that day these guys were having trouble with easy concepts as derivatives..

Anyone else read this book?
It completely changed the way i look at everything.

Anyone here interested in Systems Theory or information Theory?

I know just the basics about the subject but im interested in inmersing into it for graduate school

Anyone have any comments about it? Specially if you are from Systems Bio or Math.

Thanks

Gödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid - Douglas Hofstadter - Every system folds in on itself, be it physics, mathematics, or any form of language. All these systems are inherently self-referential, and as such, take on a life of their own. A life their creators could never imagine. Many reviewers have focused on the explicit messages of the book, their likes or dislikes, but the great beauty of this work lies within the realm of what it does not say. It is, no doubt, the most difficult book I have ever read, and I have to admit it took me several false starts to finally get through the thing. It is so incredibly deep - one cannot simply wade through it like a sci-fi novel. But if you take your time, spend, say about a year on it - work through the TNT exercises, discover the hidden messages the author has left, read the bibliography - and at some point it will strike you; the incredible richness of the message. The book, you, the world, all of it IS open. The pages of this universe are blank, unwritten. Dr. Hofstadter has woven a message of eternal optimism, one that transcends even the infinite depth to the tapestry of topics spread before us: The great freedom that we, nature's most remarkable matrix, are part of a future without destiny. Even if we were created, any purpose impressed upon us is lost in a cacophany of unexpected relationships. Deterministic, yet infinitely complex and unpredictable. We can never understand anything completely, and thus every life can experience the magic of observing that which cannot be explained. This is a book of wonders, and you will never regret the time you spent on it.

Any good? It's like $15 on Amazon.

Whats some good /sci/ literature?

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