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Description
The Cambridge Quintet: A Work of Scientific SpeculationIn this narrative tour de force, gifted scientist and author John L. Casti contemplates an imaginary evening of intellectual inquiry a sort of "My Dinner with" not Andre, but five of the most brilliant thinkers of the twentieth century. Imagine, if you will, one stormy summer evening in 1949, as novelist and scientist C. P. Snow, Britain's distinguished wartime science advisor and author of The Two Cultures, invites four singular guests to a sumptuous
In this narrative tour de force, gifted scientist and author John L. Casti contemplates an imaginary evening of intellectual inquiry--a sort of "My Dinner with" not Andre, but five of the most brilliant thinkers of the twentieth century.Imagine, if you will, one stormy summer evening in 1949, as novelist and scientist C. P. Snow, Britain's distinguished wartime science advisor and author of The Two Cultures, invites four singular guests to a sumptuous seven-course dinner at his alma mater, Christ's College, Cambridge, to discuss one of the emerging scientific issues of the day: Can we build a machine that could duplicate human cognitive processes? The distinguished guest list for Snow's dinner consists of physicist Erwin Schrodinger, inventor of wave mechanics; Ludwig Wittgenstein, the famous twentieth-century philosopher of language, who posited two completely contradictory theories of human thought in his lifetime; population geneticist/science popularizer J.B.S. Haldane; and Alan Turing, the mathematician/codebreaker who formulated the computing scheme that foreshadowed the logical structure of all modern computers. Capturing not only their unique personalities but also their particular stands on this fascinating issue, Casti dramatically shows what each of these great men might have argued about artificial intelligence, had they actually gathered for dinner that midsummer evening.With Snow acting as referee, a lively intellectual debate unfolds. Philosopher Wittgenstein argues that in order to become conscious, a machine would have to have life experiences similar to those of human beings--such as pain, joy, grief, or pleasure. Biologist Haldane offers the idea that mind is a separate entity from matter, so that regardless of how sophisticated the machine, only flesh can bond with that mysterious force called intelligence. Both physicist Schrodinger and, of course, computer pioneer Turing maintain that it is not the substance, but rather the organization of that substance, that makes a mind conscious.With great verve and skill, Casti recreates a unique and thrilling moment of time in the grand history of scientific ideas. Even readers who have already formed an opinion on artificial intelligence will be forced to reopen their minds on the subject upon reading this absorbing narrative. After almost four decades, the solutions to the epic scientific and philosophical problems posed over this meal in C. P. Snow's old rooms at Christ's College remains tantalizingly just out of reach, making this adventure into scientific speculation as valid today as it was in 1949.Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Basic Books
Published: 04/23/1999
ISBN: 9780738201382
Pages: 208
Weight: 0.71lbs
Size: 9.14h x 5.94w x 0.26d
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4.6 ★★★★★
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★★★★★ 5
Excellent Kindergarten prep
Format: Paperback
My daughter is loving all of the learning exercises and has started feeling more confident heading in to Kindergarten.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 20, 2026
★★★★★ 5
Excellent Summer Workbooks - Keeps Kids Engaged and Ready
Format: Paperback
These workbooks have been an absolute lifesaver for keeping my kids on track over the summer! I was looking for a resource that would help them retain what they learned and prepare for the next school year without feeling like a chore, and these deliver perfectly.
What I particularly love is how well **organized they are by days**. This structure eliminates any guesswork and makes it incredibly easy to assign manageable chunks of work each day, which helps to **keep my kids consistently on track**. There's no overwhelm, just steady progress.
The content is engaging, and it genuinely seems to reinforce key concepts in a fun way. We've had **absolutely no complaints** from the kids, which is a huge win for any summer learning material! I highly recommend these workbooks for any parent looking for a structured and effective way to bridge the academic gap during the summer break.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 28, 2025
★★★★★ 5
Fun for my Kindergarteners!
Format: Paperback
This activity book is a fantastic, age-appropriate resource that makes summer learning both fun and effective for Kindergarteners transitioning to 1st grade! The pages are thoughtfully designed with easy-to-follow activities that keep young minds engaged while reinforcing essential skills. The addition of flashcards, stickers, and eBooks takes the learning experience to the next level, making practice feel like playtime.
One of my favorite features is the encouragement of hands-on learning and movement through exciting fitness challenges—because learning shouldn't just be about worksheets! It turns what could be a boring review into an adventure filled with creativity and energy. This workbook truly helps bridge the summer gap while keeping kids motivated and excited for the next school year. A must-have for any little learner’s summer routine!
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Reviewed in the United States on March 19, 2025
★★★★★ 5
Recommend
Format: Paperback
Has been a great learning book
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Reviewed in the United States on February 11, 2026
★★★★★ 4
Teacher approved
Format: Paperback
Great review book to help bridge the learning between Kindergarten and 1st grade. Teacher approved!
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Reviewed in the United States on May 25, 2025
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