David Berlinski

Argues against the tenets of today's radical atheism and its proponents, refuting their allegation that religious belief and reason are irreconcilable principles in the areas of nature and human morality.

Atheism and Its Scientific Pretensions

The Devil's Delusion

A journey through the elements of calculus reveals the mysteries of mathematics, real numbers, functions, and limits, and explores the implications of calculus in defining and understanding the changing qualities of the universe

A Tour of the Calculus

A Short History of Mathematics (Modern Library Chronicles)

Infinite Ascent

David Berlinski, a senior fellow at Discovery Institute, writes about three profound mysteries: the existence of the human mind, the existence and diversity of living creatures, and the existence of matter. His other books include: The Devil's Delusion: Atheism and Its Scientific Pretensions, Newton's Gift, and A Tour of the Calculus.

The Deniable Darwin and Other Essays

The bestselling author of A Tour of the Calculus sets off on a wise and witty assault on the pretensions of the scientific atheists. Militant atheism is on the rise. In recent years Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, Daniel Dennett, and Christopher Hitchens have produced a steady stream of best-selling books denigrating religious belief. These authors are merely the leading edge of a larger movement that includes much of the scientific community.In response, mathematician David Berlinski, himself a secular Jew, delivers a biting defense of religious thought. The Devil's Delusion is a brilliant, incisive, and funny book that explores the limits of science and the pretensions of those who insist it is the ultimate touchstone for understanding our world.

Atheism and its Scientific Pretensions

Traces the history of mathematics over the course of 2,500 years, profiling ten important developments and figures, including Pythagoras, Euclid, Descartes, Leibniz, and Cantor.

A Short History of Mathematics

Describes the invention of the algorithm, first theorized by Leibniz, and the dramatic implications of this mathematical discovery on the development of computer technology and the working of DNA.

The 300-Year Journey from an Idea to the Computer

The Advent of the Algorithm

An anecdotal tour of math fundamentals by the author of The Advent of Algorithm considers the profundities of such basics as the actual workings of addition and the nature of logic, revealing how the complexities of simple mathematics are essential to everyday life.

Absolutely Elementary Mathematics

One, Two, Three

Geometry defines the world around us, helping us make sense of everything from architecture to military science to fashion. Euclid's Elements is arguably the most influential book in the history of mathematics. Berlinski provides a concise homage to this elusive mathematician and his staggering achievements, and shows that, for centuries, scientists and thinkers have relied on Euclid's axiomatic system, a method of proof still taught in classrooms around the world.

Euclid and his elements

The king of infinite space

An Essay Concerning the Limitations of Some Mathematical Methods in the Social, Political, and Biological Sciences

On Systems Analysis

Explores the enigmatic world of astrology--one of the oldest "predictive arts"--revealing its complexities and scientific merit.

Astrology and the Art of Prediction

The Secrets of the Vaulted Sky

A protean look at the science establishment-as well as the personalities behind the scenes-in such fields as behavioral psychology, linguistics, and economics.

Language, Life, Logic, Luck

Black Mischief

Tout ce que vous avez toujours voulu savoir sur les plus grands mathématiciens de l'Histoire Descartes, Euclide, Leibniz, Newton... Cinq ans après l’incroyable succès de La Vie rêvée des Maths, David Berlinski, le célèbre mathématicien philosophe, revient avec un nouveau volume tout aussi captivant. Au fil d’anecdotes historiques, il passe en revue la vie et l’œuvre des plus grands mathématiciens. Son style accessible et amusé plonge le lecteur dans l’aventure envoûtante et inattendue des mathématiques. Sous sa plume, théorèmes, axiomes, fonctions et démonstrations n’ont plus de secrets. Berlinski réussit avec cet ouvrage l’équation impossible entre les chiffres et les lettres. David Berlinski invite le lecteur à découvrir les théories mathématiques au fil des siècles. CE QU'EN PENSE LA CRITIQUE - "De la littérature scientifique atteignant la perfection. Il n’est pas simplement facile à lire ; parce qu’il est extrêmement intelligent, ce livre peut aussi inspirer des professionnels." (N. N. Taleb, Professeur à l’Université du Massachusetts) - "Une histoire des maths amusante et pleine de grâce, incroyablement facile à lire" (G. Chaitin, Chercheur au Centre IBM Thomas J. Watson) A PROPOS DE L'AUTEUR Philosophe et mathématicien, David Berlinski est né à New York en 1942. Il a été professeur à Columbia, Stanford et Rutgers. Il vit aujourd’hui à Paris où il se consacre exclusivement à l’écriture. Il est l’auteur de nombreux romans et essais parmi lesquels figurent le Don de Newton et la Vie d’Albert Einstein (Simon & Schuster, 2001) et Une petite histoire des mathématiques (Random House, 2001). EXTRAIT L’histoire des mathématiques commence en 532 av. J.-C., année de naissance du mathématicien grec Pythagore. Fuyant son île natale de Samos pour échapper au tyran Polycrate, Pythagore voyagea en Égypte où, comme tant de jeunes Grecs impressionnables, il « apprit des Égyptiens le nombre et la mesure [et] fut stupéfait de la sagesse des prêtres... » Par la suite, il s’installa dans le Sud de l’Italie, se mit à enseigner et attira rapidement des disciples. On dispose de très peu d’informations directes sur sa vie, si ce n’est que ses contemporains le tenaient pour admirable. Aucun de ses écrits n’a été retrouvé ; mais il a échappé à l’oubli, préservé par l’ambre de divers témoignages littéraires. L’admission dans la secte pythagoricienne reposait naturellement sur les compétences mathématiques. L’observation du secret était de mise, et les fèves, bannies du régime alimentaire. Les nouveaux membres devaient garder le silence pendant plusieurs années, politique qu’aujourd’hui encore de nombreux enseignants trouveront exemplaire, et étaient censés mettre ce laps de temps à profit pour méditer et réfléchir.

La saga de notre science préférée

Une brève histoire des maths

Describes the invention of the algorithm, first theorized by Leibniz, and the dramatic implications of this mathematical discovery on the development of computer technology and the working of DNA

The Idea that Rules the World

A portrait of the physicist's life assesses his remarkable accomplishments in the field of science, his rescue of the British mint and its currency, and his intellectual battles with his colleagues.

How Sir Isaac Newton Unlocked the System of the World

Newton's Gift

Examines modern scientific research, looks at how personalities shape science, and argues that outmoded theories are still influential

The Mechanics of Modern Science

Conventional wisdom holds that the murder rate has plummeted since the Middle Ages; humankind is growing more peaceful and enlightened; man is shortly to be much improved--better genes, better neural circuits, better biochemistry; and we are approaching a technological singularity that well may usher in utopia. Human Nature eviscerates these and other doctrines of a contemporary nihilism masquerading as science. In this wide-ranging work polymath David Berlinski draws upon history, mathematics, logic, and literature to retrain our gaze on an old truth many are eager to forget: there is and will be about the human condition beauty, nobility, and moments of sublime insight, yes, but also ignorance and depravity. Men are not about to become like gods.

Human Nature

Geometry defines the world around us, helping us make sense of everything from architecture to military science to fashion. And for over two thousand years, geometry has been equated with Euclid's Elements, arguably the most influential book in the history of mathematics In The King of Infinite Space, renowned mathematics writer David Berlinski provides a concise homage to this elusive mathematician and his staggering achievements. Berlinski shows that, for centuries, scientists and thinkers from Copernicus to Newton to Einstein have relied on Euclid's axiomatic system, a method of proof still taught in classrooms around the world. Euclid's use of elemental logic—and the mathematical statements he and others built from it—have dramatically expanded the frontiers of human knowledge. The King of Infinite Space presents a rich, accessible treatment of Euclid and his beautifully simple geometric system, which continues to shape the way we see the world.

David Berlinski

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