Listen free for 30 days
-
Redefining Reality
- The Intellectual Implications of Modern Science
- Narrated by: Steven Gimbel
- Series: The Great Courses: Modern Philosophy
- Length: 18 hrs and 6 mins
- Lecture
- Categories: Politics & Social Sciences, Philosophy
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wish list failed.
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Audible Membership
$14.95 a month
Buy Now for $80.58
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Buy it with
-
Exploring Metaphysics
- Written by: David K. Johnson, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: David K. Johnson
- Length: 11 hrs and 24 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This mind-bending tour of metaphysics applies philosophy to the forefront of today's knowledge. Over the course of 24 fascinating lectures, Professor Johnson thinks through the big questions about humans and the universe: The relationship between the mind and the brain, how consciousness emerges from neurochemical processes, the existence of God, human free will, the possibility of time travel, and whether we live in a multiverse or even a computer simulation.
-
-
Excellent with caveats
- By Corvine Habanero on 2019-04-29
Written by: David K. Johnson, and others
-
The Great Questions of Philosophy and Physics
- Written by: Steven Gimbel, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Steven Gimbel
- Length: 6 hrs and 10 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Philosophers have long puzzled over the nature of space, time, and matter. These inquiries led to the flowering of physics with the Scientific Revolution in the 17th century. Since then, the spectacular success of modern physics might appear to have made philosophy irrelevant. But new theories have created a new range of philosophical concerns: What is the shape of space? Is time travel possible? Is there a grand unified theory that unites all of physics?
-
-
Great story of Philosophy & Physics
- By L. J. Oja on 2021-02-04
Written by: Steven Gimbel, and others
-
No Excuses: Existentialism and the Meaning of Life
- Written by: Robert C. Solomon, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Robert C. Solomon
- Length: 12 hrs and 7 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
What is life? What is my place in it? What choices do these questions obligate me to make? More than a half-century after it burst upon the intellectual scene - with roots that extend to the mid-19th century - Existentialism's quest to answer these most fundamental questions of individual responsibility, morality, and personal freedom, life has continued to exert a profound attraction.
-
-
Teaching excellence!
- By Jm on 2020-03-08
Written by: Robert C. Solomon, and others
-
Argumentation: The Study of Effective Reasoning, 2nd Edition
- Written by: David Zarefsky, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: David Zarefsky
- Length: 12 hrs and 15 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
What is effective reasoning? And how can it be done persuasively? These questions have been asked for thousands of years, yet some of the best thinking on reasoning and argumentation is recent and represents a break from the past. These 24 engaging lectures teach you how to reason, how to persuade others that what you think is right, and how to judge and answer the arguments of others - and how they will judge yours.
-
-
Pedantic
- By Richard B Kuzyk on 2021-07-29
Written by: David Zarefsky, and others
-
The Modern Political Tradition: Hobbes to Habermas
- Written by: Lawrence Cahoone, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Lawrence Cahoone
- Length: 18 hrs and 24 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Without even realizing it, we all use the fruits of political philosophy. From liberty to democracy to community, the terms and concepts originated by political philosophers are ingrained in our global consciousness. Yet many of us have an incomplete picture of how these ideas developed and, quite possibly, a skewed perception of their intentions and implications. This highly relevant course sheds light on the labyrinth of Western political and social theory, as well as its influence on modern history.
-
-
Excellent overview of the topic.
- By Michael L Pilling on 2018-09-19
Written by: Lawrence Cahoone, and others
-
The History of Christian Theology
- Written by: Phillip Cary, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Phillip Cary
- Length: 18 hrs and 57 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In this 36-lecture course, you'll find an engaging way to explore profound religious questions and the many responses believers, scholars, and theologians have developed over more than 2,000 years. Through this series, Professor Cary reveals the enduring power of the Christian tradition-as both an intellectual discipline and a spiritual path.These lectures begin at the very dawn of Christianity, as you examine some of the earliest examples of scripture recorded by the first communities of the faithful.
-
-
So well done. Thank you!
- By Graham Brockley on 2018-10-19
Written by: Phillip Cary, and others
-
Exploring Metaphysics
- Written by: David K. Johnson, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: David K. Johnson
- Length: 11 hrs and 24 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This mind-bending tour of metaphysics applies philosophy to the forefront of today's knowledge. Over the course of 24 fascinating lectures, Professor Johnson thinks through the big questions about humans and the universe: The relationship between the mind and the brain, how consciousness emerges from neurochemical processes, the existence of God, human free will, the possibility of time travel, and whether we live in a multiverse or even a computer simulation.
-
-
Excellent with caveats
- By Corvine Habanero on 2019-04-29
Written by: David K. Johnson, and others
-
The Great Questions of Philosophy and Physics
- Written by: Steven Gimbel, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Steven Gimbel
- Length: 6 hrs and 10 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Philosophers have long puzzled over the nature of space, time, and matter. These inquiries led to the flowering of physics with the Scientific Revolution in the 17th century. Since then, the spectacular success of modern physics might appear to have made philosophy irrelevant. But new theories have created a new range of philosophical concerns: What is the shape of space? Is time travel possible? Is there a grand unified theory that unites all of physics?
-
-
Great story of Philosophy & Physics
- By L. J. Oja on 2021-02-04
Written by: Steven Gimbel, and others
-
No Excuses: Existentialism and the Meaning of Life
- Written by: Robert C. Solomon, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Robert C. Solomon
- Length: 12 hrs and 7 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
What is life? What is my place in it? What choices do these questions obligate me to make? More than a half-century after it burst upon the intellectual scene - with roots that extend to the mid-19th century - Existentialism's quest to answer these most fundamental questions of individual responsibility, morality, and personal freedom, life has continued to exert a profound attraction.
-
-
Teaching excellence!
- By Jm on 2020-03-08
Written by: Robert C. Solomon, and others
-
Argumentation: The Study of Effective Reasoning, 2nd Edition
- Written by: David Zarefsky, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: David Zarefsky
- Length: 12 hrs and 15 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
What is effective reasoning? And how can it be done persuasively? These questions have been asked for thousands of years, yet some of the best thinking on reasoning and argumentation is recent and represents a break from the past. These 24 engaging lectures teach you how to reason, how to persuade others that what you think is right, and how to judge and answer the arguments of others - and how they will judge yours.
-
-
Pedantic
- By Richard B Kuzyk on 2021-07-29
Written by: David Zarefsky, and others
-
The Modern Political Tradition: Hobbes to Habermas
- Written by: Lawrence Cahoone, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Lawrence Cahoone
- Length: 18 hrs and 24 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Without even realizing it, we all use the fruits of political philosophy. From liberty to democracy to community, the terms and concepts originated by political philosophers are ingrained in our global consciousness. Yet many of us have an incomplete picture of how these ideas developed and, quite possibly, a skewed perception of their intentions and implications. This highly relevant course sheds light on the labyrinth of Western political and social theory, as well as its influence on modern history.
-
-
Excellent overview of the topic.
- By Michael L Pilling on 2018-09-19
Written by: Lawrence Cahoone, and others
-
The History of Christian Theology
- Written by: Phillip Cary, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Phillip Cary
- Length: 18 hrs and 57 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In this 36-lecture course, you'll find an engaging way to explore profound religious questions and the many responses believers, scholars, and theologians have developed over more than 2,000 years. Through this series, Professor Cary reveals the enduring power of the Christian tradition-as both an intellectual discipline and a spiritual path.These lectures begin at the very dawn of Christianity, as you examine some of the earliest examples of scripture recorded by the first communities of the faithful.
-
-
So well done. Thank you!
- By Graham Brockley on 2018-10-19
Written by: Phillip Cary, and others
-
Black Holes, Tides, and Curved Spacetime
- Written by: Benjamin Schumacher, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Benjamin Schumacher
- Length: 12 hrs and 6 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Gravity controls everything from the falling of an apple to the rising of ocean’s tides to the motions of the heavens above. If you’ve ever wondered how this most puzzling force works across our entire universe, you will be delighted by this 24-part course that is accessible to any curious person, regardless of your science education. No other product on the market presents the subject of gravity in as much detail as this course, which will follow the past 400 years of research and experimentation in the field.
-
-
Fascinating. Better than I expected.
- By Anonymous User on 2022-07-29
Written by: Benjamin Schumacher, and others
-
The Joy of Science
- Written by: Robert M. Hazen, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Robert M. Hazen
- Length: 30 hrs and 29 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Science is humanity's greatest achievement. It ranges from the study of the universe itself to the smallest particles of matter contained within it - and everything in between. If you want to better understand our physical world, as most of us do, gaining a basic understanding of science itself is profoundly important - yet many are intimidated by the breathtaking scope of such an endeavor. Now an award-winning science teacher has taken out the intimidation, harnessing that breathtaking scope into a series of 60 exciting, comprehensive, and accessible lectures.
-
-
brilliantly done
- By Amazon Customer on 2020-12-20
Written by: Robert M. Hazen, and others
-
The Great Ideas of Philosophy, 2nd Edition
- Written by: Daniel N. Robinson, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Daniel N. Robinson
- Length: 30 hrs and 11 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Grasp the important ideas that have served as the backbone of philosophy across the ages with this extraordinary 60-lecture series. This is your opportunity to explore the enormous range of philosophical perspectives and ponder the most important and enduring of human questions-without spending your life poring over dense philosophical texts.
-
-
Too idiosyncratic for my taste
- By Enrique on 2019-12-08
Written by: Daniel N. Robinson, and others
-
Mysteries of Modern Physics: Time
- Written by: Sean Carroll, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Sean Carroll
- Length: 12 hrs and 17 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Time rules our lives, woven into the very fabric of the universe-from the rising and setting of the sun to the cycles of nature, the thought processes in our brains, and the biorhythms in our day. Nothing so pervades our existence and yet is so difficult to explain. But now, in a series of 24 riveting lectures, you can grasp exactly why - as you take a mind-expanding journey through the past, present, and future, guided by a noted author and scientist.
-
-
An entertaining Intellectual journey.
- By TerryEh on 2021-11-21
Written by: Sean Carroll, and others
-
The Will to Power: The Philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche
- Written by: The Great Courses, Kathleen M. Higgins, Robert C. Solomon
- Narrated by: Kathleen M. Higgins, Robert C. Solomon
- Length: 12 hrs and 17 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Who was Friedrich Nietzsche? This lonely and chronically ill, yet passionate, daring, and complex man is perhaps the most mysterious and least understood of all contemporary philosophers. Why are his brilliant insights so relevant for today? How did he become the most misinterpreted and unfairly maligned intellectual figure of the last two centuries?
-
-
It’s a lecture
- By Anonymous User on 2019-10-21
Written by: The Great Courses, and others
-
The Foundations of Western Civilization
- Written by: Thomas F. X. Noble, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Thomas F. X. Noble
- Length: 24 hrs and 51 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
What is Western Civilization? According to Professor Noble, it is "much more than human and political geography," encompassing myriad forms of political and institutional structures - from monarchies to participatory republics - and its own traditions of political discourse. It involves choices about who gets to participate in any given society and the ways in which societies have resolved the tension between individual self-interest and the common good.
-
-
very protestant and narrow
- By Carole Oleniuk on 2018-12-12
Written by: Thomas F. X. Noble, and others
-
Chemistry and Our Universe
- How It All Works
- Written by: Ron B. Davis, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Ron B. Davis
- Length: 30 hrs and 6 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Chemistry and Our Universe: How It All Works is your in-depth introduction to this vital field, taught through 60 engaging half-hour lectures that are suitable for any background or none at all. Covering a year’s worth of introductory general chemistry at the college level, plus intriguing topics that are rarely discussed in the classroom, this amazingly comprehensive course requires nothing more advanced than high-school math. Your guide is Professor Ron B. Davis, Jr., a research chemist and award-winning teacher at Georgetown University.
-
-
Excellent survey of chemistry
- By Shesophist on 2020-07-21
Written by: Ron B. Davis, and others
-
The Higgs Boson and Beyond
- Written by: Sean Carroll, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Sean Carroll
- Length: 6 hrs and 20 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In this 12-lecture masterpiece of scientific reporting, you'll learn everything you need to know to fully grasp the significance of this discovery, including the basics of quantum mechanics; the four forces that comprise the Standard Model of particle physics; how these forces are transmitted by fields and particles; and the importance of symmetry in physics.
-
-
One of the greatest
- By josh brolin on 2020-11-27
Written by: Sean Carroll, and others
-
Great Minds of the Western Intellectual Tradition, 3rd Edition
- Written by: The Great Courses, Alan Charles Kors, Darren Staloff, and others
- Narrated by: Alan Charles Kors, Darren Staloff, Dennis Dalton, and others
- Length: 43 hrs and 41 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
For 3,000 years, mankind has grappled with fundamental questions about life. What is real? Who or what is God? When is it legitimate for one person to have power over others? What is justice? Beauty? This 84-lecture, 12-professor tour of Western philosophical tradition covers more than 60 of history's greatest minds and brings you a comprehensive survey of the history of Western philosophy from its origins in classical Greece to the present.
-
-
Very disappointed
- By elcucuy on 2019-04-16
Written by: The Great Courses, and others
-
The Theory of Everything: The Quest to Explain All Reality
- Written by: Don Lincoln, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Don Lincoln
- Length: 12 hrs and 21 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
At the end of his career, Albert Einstein was pursuing a dream far more ambitious than the theory of relativity. He was trying to find an equation that explained all physical reality - a theory of everything. Experimental physicist and award-winning educator Dr. Don Lincoln takes you on this exciting journey in The Theory of Everything: The Quest to Explain All Reality. Suitable for the intellectually curious at all levels and assuming no background beyond basic high-school math, these 24 half-hour lectures cover recent developments at the forefront of particle physics and cosmology.
-
-
Needs to be re-recorded
- By WTL on 2019-09-17
Written by: Don Lincoln, and others
-
Plato's Republic
- Written by: The Great Courses, David Roochnik
- Narrated by: Professor David Roochnik Ph.D. Pennsylvania State University
- Length: 12 hrs and 14 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
More than 2,000 years later, Plato's Republic remains astonishingly relevant to our everyday lives. It poses one question after another that might well have been drawn from the headlines and debates of our nation's recent history: What sort of person should rule the state? Are all citizens equal before the law? Should everyone have equal access to health care? Plato's greater inquiry, however, was into the question of defining justice itself and the reasons why a person would choose a life aligned with that virtue.
-
-
A must
- By Bjoern Werner on 2019-10-23
Written by: The Great Courses, and others
-
Sci-Phi: Science Fiction as Philosophy
- Written by: The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Professor David K. Johnson PhD University of Oklahoma
- Length: 13 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The science fiction genre has become increasingly influential in mainstream popular culture, evolving into one of the most engaging storytelling tools we use to think about technology and consider the shape of the future. Along the way, it has also become one of the major lenses we use to explore important philosophical questions. The origins of science fiction are most often thought to trace to Mary Shelley's novel Frankenstein, a story born from a night of spooky tale-telling by the fireside that explores scientific, moral, and ethical questions that were of great concern in the 19th century - and that continue to resonate today.
-
-
Loved this Course!
- By ewyn on 2020-03-14
Written by: The Great Courses
Publisher's Summary
No subject is bigger than reality itself, and nothing is more challenging to understand, since what counts as reality is undergoing continual revision and has been for centuries. For example, the matter that comprises all stars, planets, and living things turns out to be just a fraction of what actually exists. Moreover, we think that we control our actions, but data analytics can predict, with astonishing accuracy, when we will wake up, what we will buy, and even whom we will marry.
The quest to pin down what's real and what's illusory is both philosophical and scientific, a metaphysical search for ultimate reality that goes back to the ancient Greeks. For the last 400 years, this search has been increasingly guided by scientists, who create theories and test them in order to define and redefine reality. And we have developed the power to alter our own reality in major ways - to defeat diseases, compensate for disabilities, and augment our intellect with computers. Where is that trend going?
Experience the thrill of this exciting quest in 36 wide-ranging lectures that touch on many aspects of the ceaseless search for reality. From the birth of the universe to brain science, discover that separating the real from the illusory is an exhilarating intellectual adventure.
Scientists and philosophers are not alone in grappling, at an intellectual level, with reality. Some of the most accessible interpretations are by painters, novelists, filmmakers, and other artists whose works not only draw on the latest discoveries but also sometimes inspire them. Explore examples such as Alice in Wonderland, pointillism, cubism, surrealism, and reality TV.
And since dealing with reality is an experience we all share, this course is designed for people of all backgrounds.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.
What listeners say about Redefining Reality
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Ashton
- 2022-06-21
Summary of history
Great summary of the history of science, culture and philosophy. Good narration and funny
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- samuel esau santarella
- 2019-09-06
Biased
Extremely well at reporting the available observable data, but subtly biased in his philosophical explanation.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Mitchell Burns
- 2019-01-14
Great
Excellent summary of where we are intellectually. Lecturer has excellent grasp of subject matter and did a great job of tying together different principles into one line of thinking.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Jorge
- 2018-09-13
Great Read
This was one of my favorite Great Courses and very profound insight into changes that I have witnessed in my own lifetime. Highly recommended read. #Audible1
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Todd Sankey
- 2018-08-05
a wonderful, broad spectrum view of science
a pleasing walkthrough of the many domains of science, touching the subtlety and interconnections of each
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Randy
- 2018-04-25
Great Wholistic Approach
Love the presenter. Touches on lots of different paradigms. Doesn't espouse a particular world view. Just presents what's out there.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Bailey
- 2015-09-13
mind = blown
What is reality? That's the subject of this series of 36 lectures. We think we know what reality is, but most people don't take the time to think about how popular paradigms color their world view. For instance, we all know that the universe is full of billions of galaxies. But 100 years ago, we all knew that the universe was basically just what you could see in the night sky. Before that we all knew that the universe was the sun, moon, 7 planets and a bunch of lights embedded in a crystalline sphere that encircled the earth.
Aristotle taught that an apple dropped to the ground because it was trying to find it's natural place - an apple does what an apple does. Newton taught that the apple drops because of the relationship between the apple and the earth, this relationship being defined by gravity. Now we teach that "things" are merely sensory illusions brought about by the interaction of various quantum fields.
When I was finishing graduate school and getting ready for the dreaded oral exam, I took two weeks and reread every one of my undergraduate textbooks, cover to cover. I remember thinking how much more sense it all made when you saw it all at once instead of having it parceled out over one or two semesters. That's what this course is like.
These lectures cover all of science, including the social sciences, and are without a doubt the best presentation of science I've ever read. There's not much here that I hadn't already been exposed to, but the lectures are so clear that it all makes much more sense. The lectures are full of simple, every day, and often humorous, illustrations of every aspect of science.
Also included is a little philosophy and the arts, as these subjects relate to reality. This is the first time I can truly say I understand what Descartes meant when he wrote "I think, therefore I am".
I wish that this course was required for every school student. The information is vast, but the presentation is simple enough that anyone can understand it. The course includes not only the hard sciences, but sociology and psychology. The chapter on behavioral science - and how it's used by politicians, pundits and advertisers to influence people is actually a little terrifying.
The course is 18 hours in Audible format - 30 minutes per lecture. If you have a 30 minute commute you can complete it in just 18 days, and you'll have an awesome understanding not only of the great sweep of human knowledge but how that knowledge shapes our perception of what we call "reality".
247 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- John
- 2015-07-11
Good overview of multiple areas of science
I liked Professor Gimbel's explanations of the different areas of science. He did a good job explaining how the science came into being. What questions the science is trying to solve. I found his explanations of relativity and quantum mechanics very good. It helped me understand these areas that fascinate me from a outsiders view a little better.
These lectures start at the lowest quantum levels and go all the way up to cosmic levels. Then the lectures follow the same kind of path of understanding humans going from psychology to sociology. The last lecture talks about big data analytics and how amazingly predictable humans surprisingly are. Interesting stuff. It's long but I am glad I listened.
78 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Romeo421
- 2015-09-19
my reality has been redefined
I have listened to a lot if Great Courses and will continue as long as they make them. Their are ones that are more fit for viewing because visuals are key to the lessons. This course is perfect for audio. it is full of contemplative lessons that make you want to inquire more about the subject matter. it is a great history lesson about the impacts of the paradigm shifts of humanity.. The narrator has an upbeat voice that really conveys his interest and knowledge about the subjects discussed. Another great Great Course!
50 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- serine
- 2016-03-12
This covers everything!
This was a shockingly broad academic survey of reality. After reading it, I felt as if I had just gotten a summary of some of the best parts of my entire 4 years of undergrad. Gimble began his lectures by concentrating on the universe at large. This is because all things, e.g. cells, animals, the earth, our brains,our thoughts, etc, are made up of the atoms forged in the early universe. Once he described where matter came from, he proceeded to examine the reality of matter in its various forms. Glorious.
What Gimble does very well:
His explanation of particle/field physics was wonderful. I have only ever heard such an uncluttered explanation from the likes of Sean Carroll. There are so many particles and they all do different things and are governed by different forces, it can be a really tricky subject to tackle. He can't be as thorough as Carroll about forces including the Higgs, because his lecture is much broader. But, I was impressed.
He was equally gifted at describing Einstein's view of the universe. Again, Gimble provided one of the most easy to understand descriptions of general and special relativity. One of the best short histories I have heard. His explanation of the equivalence of gravity and acceleration was absolutely wonderful.
What I think he does not do well:
The words "free will" and quantum physics should never be used together. Period. We simply do not have any solid science for that discussion. I would not have minded a discussion of free will that involved a spattering of eliminative materialism with some outdated dualism. That would have at least been digestible. But to bring quantum physics into the discussion at this point, with a complete lack of data, was a disappointment for me.
Gimble also did not research his neuroscience lectures enough. He did ok with neuroeconomics but not basic neuro. He specifically said neurons do not regenerate. We have known from at least as far back as 2005 that indeed they do. Meditation (8 weeks +), exercise, and various medications result in new neuron growth in the hippocampus. Those new cells then migrate along microglial cells toward the outer cortex, resulting in new neurons in the larger brain. It is a slow process to be sure, unlike a skin cell that is damaged. So losing brain cells is a serious matter. However, there is zero question that neruogenesis occurs. He also fully accepts the mirror neuron hypothesis about empathy and morality when there is a lot of evidence to suggest it might be much more complicated than that. Yes mirror neurons are activated when seeing others carry out actions. However, there is no solid evidence to suggest they are where morality arises. In fact, better evidence to include would have been Josh Green vmPFC and dlPFC in moral decision making. That is fairly solid evidence for morality centers in the brain.
His free will lectures didn't make up a large proportion of the series and it was sandwiched in between fantastic lectures. I was incredibly happy to see him include updated mechanisms of inheritance. In earlier lectures, Gimble presents all the usual genetics information- e.g. Mendel. But then addressed modification of DNA by environmental factors, e.g. a baby can have up to 7 biological parents contribute to their biological being. After discussing the development of a child, he returned to free will, and it was much more palatable in this context.
Some more great moments from this series came from Gimble discussions of thermodynamics in the whole universe, in stars, on plant earth and in living things. He also provided information on the work that synthesizes the conditions at hydrothermal vents, in an attempt to understand from where first life originated. Absolutely wonderful discussion. I highly recommend this series.
48 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Gary
- 2015-07-13
Take this course instead of first year in college
All of the cool parts of all the sciences (and social sciences) are covered in this lecture. The lecture is somewhat equivalent to taking the first year undergraduate course of study where you didn't have to worry about memorizing irrelevant facts or learn the mathematics. He tells you what you need to know about physics, geology, economics, sociology, psychology, and even why deductive systems such as mathematics with it's different orders of infinity is so cool and relevant to understanding the nature of reality.
The lecturer ties each lecture together by linking the growth of each subject by how we first understand the individual item (say a rock), then the relationship between the rocks (say gravity) and then the web for which the rocks live in (say the universe).
The paradigms we use to describe our reality are part of the current understanding and when somebody steps out of that paradigm and sees the world differently we first say they are spouting nonsense, but overtime the new paradigm can take hold. Newton was called crazy (action at a distance, what an absurd concept!), Einstein was challenged until he wasn't then he never accepts the quantum mechanics, and so on.
Always, the lecture educates and entertains. He will tie difficult points to a movie, a book, or a painting and show how it is relevant to the point he is making. "Frankenstein" the book finally makes sense to me.
103 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Primoz
- 2015-08-10
Magnificent
One oh the best books I've read on audible (app. 100 until now, mostly non-fiction). Everything a well-rounded and informed person should know about the history of science and contemporary world. Professor Gimbel is a unique and brilliant mind with the ability to explain, apply and connect the most intricate and complex scientific data to the bigger picture of the "system" called reality. Thank you prof. Gimbel and Audible! Primoz Mavric, Slovenia
16 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- John
- 2015-08-04
One of the best great courses
Helped me do my hour long beach walks. I like the progression the course took starting with the basics of physics and working right up to the latest time now with data mining and social media and how it all tied together at the very end. The professor knew his stuff and had his facts down cold.
24 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Irena
- 2015-10-25
Informative, thought provoking and entertaining.
This course explores how each significant discovery, each scientific revolution causes us to redefine our understanding of reality. Steven Gimbel is an excellent narrator. He examines the widest range of scientific disciplines (physics, cosmology, mathematics, chemistry, biology, genetics, cybernetics, psychology, sociology), illustrating the emerging pattern: our view of the world develops from a simplified atomistic picture(studying properties of discrete objects) to the study of relations between the objects and then to the holistic picture(studying the whole interconnected system as the ultimate model of reality). "Redefining Reality" is one of the most thought provoking, entertaining and informative courses I've ever listened to.
10 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Chris Reich
- 2016-02-01
Disappointing for Me, Maybe Not for You
I would summarize this course as more of a brief history of science rather than an exploration of reality. A reader reasonably versed in science is going to find the the first half painfully elementary. The second half is a little better but still doesn't delve into what I would expect for a course supposedly designed to redefine my idea of reality. It might make a redefinition for a particular individual with no prior knowledge of scientific advancements of the past 100 years.
But wait. While this course was a disappointment to me, it may be great for you. I expected more mind stumping discussion than a recap of the history of mathematics and the papers of Einstein. I've traveled those roads often. Almost all books on the current state of quantum mechanics will take the reader step by step through the Bohr Einstein debates.
This course starts way before Einstein shook up reality. Newton certainly redefined reality for his time. Even that's not far enough back. Euclid? If I take a course called "redefining reality" I wouldn't expect it to begin with Euclid or Plato.
This course might aptly be called "The History of Reality as Perceived Through the Ages".
It didn't change my reality.
Again, let me say that the course is well presented and many people will enjoy and learn from it. It is very basic, however, and if you have a science background you won't find anything new or thought-provoking in this course.
152 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Karuṇā
- 2015-08-28
Interesting entry-level overview
What did you love best about Redefining Reality?
It's approachable, the examples and metaphors are good, the scope is very broad, and there are interesting tidbits scattered throughout (I especially appreciated a new perspective on Aristotle's concept of elements, which I've somehow managed to miss and without which the concept seems odd).
Who was your favorite character and why?
Gödel! What a surprising, yet somehow natural-seeming, conclusion! Has always been thought-provoking, for me at least.
Have you listened to any of Professor Steven Gimbel’s other performances before? How does this one compare?
I've not listened to any others, though I'd be happy to in the future. The professor reads articulately and energetically.
What’s the most interesting tidbit you’ve picked up from this book?
I'd say the afore-mentioned example from Aristotle surprised and delighted me the most. Most of the material is familiar, but there's just not time in 40 hours to do more than gloss on such a broad subject.
Any additional comments?
A broad scope unfortunately means much gets missed, which is not anyone's fault (you can only cover what there's time to cover in 40 hours, and you could easily make a 400- or 4,000-hour presentation on this topic without hitting nearly everything.)
8 people found this helpful