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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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4.3 ★★★★★
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Product Reviews
★★★★★ 1
Burned my already sensitive feet, too big
Color: Pink & Beige, Size: Medium/Large(fits size 8 to 11)
Feels icky, and the heat gets trapped and literally felt like my feet were being burned by these. The bottoms of these feel prickly and they are way too big. You have to sit still and cannot walk in them.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 22, 2026
★★★★★ 5
Just as good as paraffin wax
Color: Pink & Beige, Size: Medium/Large(fits size 8 to 11)
I might prefer these socks over paraffin wax. They are comfy and very moisturizing. I use these socks once a week to keep the heels and soles of my feet moisturized between pedicures. I rinse with warm, soapy water then hang to dry. They are hard to walk in, but there's a saying printed in the socks that's says something to the effect of "take a break, stay off your feet" lol I love that as a reminder to put my feet up and relax
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Reviewed in the United States on April 9, 2026
★★★★★ 5
Love these!
Color: Pink & Beige, Size: Small(fits up to size 7)
Love these! As I write this review, I’m sitting in my recliner with these on. I have had other silicone socks in the past and would like to share a few of the things that I have learned.
These fit great! The others were 2-3 sizes too big because you could not order a size. I wear a size 7 women’s shoe. I got the smaller size. I walked around my apartment in my old ones and they got kinda yucky. Now, I sit in my recliner, put them on and chill for a few hours. I now take them off and put in a ziplock bag so they stay nice and clean (no cat hair!). I use them once a week usually on Saturday or Sunday as I’m a working girl. Also, I use Auqaphor before I put them on and put cotton socks on after I’m finished. Your feet will be SO soft. This is not a one and done…I do this every week especially during sandal season! I know this was lengthy and I hope you got some tips.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 25, 2026
★★★★★ 5
These socks are wonderful!
I was wanting toeless socks to wear at night when I sleep. I put moisturizer on my feet before I go to sleep and wanted socks to hold in the moisturizer. But, I cannot stand having a sock that covers my whole foot. So, I thought, gee, I wonder if they make socks that do not have toes? Well, I found some that have a gel pad, got those, and hated them. They felt awful and I couldn't sleep with them on. Finally, though, I came across these socks -- no gel pad, no toes. They are wonderful. They have enough hold to stay on my feet all night, but are very comfortable. In fact, when I get them on my feet, I forget they are even there. They are soft and well-made and have really cute colors/patterns. I understand that they are probably for exercise/yoga/pilates classes, but I find them perfect for my needs. I love them!
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Reviewed in the United States on April 2, 2024
★★★★★ 5
GENIUS IDEA !❤
I'm a nurse and on my feet for 10 hours a day. I wear nursing clogs but really don't like to wear socks. I feel like they smother my feet. These allowed me to wear socks but have my toes free and it feels wonderful!
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Reviewed in the United States on August 28, 2021