Book Description
These provocative essays take a modern look at the seventeenth-century thinker's dream, examining the influences of mathematics on society, particularly in light of technological advances. They survey the conditions that elicit the application of mathematic principles; the applications' effectiveness; and how applied mathematics transform perceptions of reality. 1987 edition.
Customer Reviews:
Interview with Charles M. Strauss.......2006-08-08
My favorite part of this book was the interview with CS. As a programmer, it was gratifying to read such a sensible articulation of the profession.
Interesting , but doesn't add up to a unified whole.......2006-02-26
THIS IS A well-intentioned but hardly satisfying book. From various angles it shows the increasing mathematization of our lives - but more importantly it questions the wisdom of placing our faith in this type of orderly, rationalized world.
We have become more mathematically inclined than you probably realize. It has become a given that those fields having a solid mathematical underpinning (e.g. physics and chemistry) have more validity than those that don't (e.g. psychology and sociology). The implications of this belief stretch far and wide. Mathematics has now reached into everything from biology, medicine, astrophysics, and economics to linguistics, musical composition, choreography, and art. The more math a field employs, it is believed, the more valid it must be.
The belief that guides much of modern society is that anything in the physical world can become the subject of a mathematical theory. This was French philosopher Rene Descartes' dream. In 1637 he published his revolutionary "Discourse on Method" which was a methodology for science based on the deductive logic of mathematical reasoning. This meant that since one plus one equals two, and this is a truth that cannot be challenged, then anything that can be put into a mathematical framework would also be true. This view also leads to the belief (as it did for Descartes) that animals - and perhaps humans - are merely complex machines; after all, life itself exists in the physical world.
But where does one draw the line? Certainly some things must be kept outside of the mathematical/computerized realm. Hopefully, emotions, attitudes, literature and the like will never make a successful transition into a computer program.
The authors attempt to create a "heightened awareness of the relationship between humans and the mathematics they have created!" An awareness, they say, "is necessary to shield us from the effects of the revolutionary waves of symbols that are about to wash over us."
However, the approach the authors take in developing this idea is less than satisfying. It pokes and jabs at various aspects of our math-inflicted society but the ideas do not always flow easily into the central theme. This is due to the book's construction, a loosely compiled collection of articles, addresses and taped interviews. Indeed, the authors suggest that readers should "browse at random and read whatever catches their fancy." At 306 pages, it's a good idea; but the result of this, however, is a book that has many interesting parts that often do not add up to any sort of unified whole.
Some of the essays lure you in with an interesting premise but then drown you in page after page of difficult math. By the time you've gotten to the end of the essay you've really forgotten what the point was or where it fits in with the rest of the book.
The message of this volume - that we "are being mathematized at an increasing rate ... and it may not be good for us" - is one that more people should hear.
surprisingly flimsy.......2005-04-23
This book is supposed to cover how math is applied to real world problems, or at least that is what I expected when I got it. Alas, while it tries to address this agenda, there is very little of substance here beyond some rather simplistic assertions of how and why this was done. Sure, math has creeped into most academic disciplines, from hard to social sciences, but that doesn't mean it shouldn't be questioned, which the authors fail to do. As such, what you get is a series of exmaples, none of which I can even remember, some assertions of philosophical relevance, and then not much more than simple convenstional views.
For example, even the title attests to the authors' superficial treatment: Descartes is portrayed as the source of much of the revolution of the physical and other sciences, folllowing his "vision" of unifying the sciences while lieing in an oven to keep warm. Well, I think even that view can be challenged: many scientists I know, while acknowledging his contribution to math with coordinate geometry, would argue that Descartes philosophical writings in fact had little impact on the direction of science - one even told me that it was the French intelligensia that hoped to claim responsibility for the sci revolution then underway. (In this view, the real hero would be Newton.) THe authors' probe none of that. Nor do they question the usefulness of what I see as an overapplication of math to many disciplines, such as political science and even economics in some cases, which may be revealed as little more than academic fashions in the future.
That makes this book the conventional view, over lightly. Not recommended. Mathematicians may like it, but critics of math will not.
Book Description
Serengeti II: Dynamics, Management, and Conservation of an Ecosystem brings together twenty years of research by leading scientists to provide the most most thorough understanding to date of the spectacular Serengeti-Mara ecosystem in East Africa, home to one of the largest and most diverse populations of animals in the world.
Building on the groundwork laid by the classic Serengeti: Dynamics of an Ecosystem, published in 1979 by the University of Chicago Press, this new book integrates studies of the ecosystem at every level—from the plants at the bottom of the visible food chain, to the many species of herbivores and predators, to the system as a whole. Drawing on new data from many long-term studies and from more recent research initiatives, and applying new theory and computer technology, the contributors examine the large-scale processes that have produced the Serengeti's extraordinary biological diversity, as well as the interactions among species and between plants and animals and their environment. They also introduce computer modeling as a tool for exploring these interactions, employing this new technology to test and anticipate the effects of social, political, and economic changes on the entire ecosystem and on particular species, and so to shape future conservation and management strategies.
Book Description
Kruger National Park in South Africa has one of the most extensive sets of records of any protected area in the world, and throughout its history has supported connections between science and management. In recognition of that long-standing tradition comes The Kruger Experience, the first book to synthesize/summarize a century of ecological research and management in two million hectares of African savanna.
The Kruger Experience places the scientific and management experience in Kruger within the framework of modern ecological theory and its practical applications. The book uses a cross-cutting theme of ecological heterogeneity -- the idea that ecological systems function across a full hierarchy of physical and biological components, processes, and scales, in a dynamic space-time mosaic. Contributors, who include many esteemed ecologists who have worked in Kruger in recent years, examine a range of topics covering broad taxonomic groupings and ecological processes. The book's four sections explore:
- the historical context of research and management in Kruger, the theme of heterogeneity, and the current philosophy in Kruger for linking science with management
- the template of natural components and processes, as influenced by management, that determine the present state of the Kruger ecosystem
- how species interact within the ecosystem to generate further heterogeneity across space and time
- humans as key components of savanna ecosystems
In addition to the editors, contributors include William J. Bond, Jane Lubchenco, David Mabunda, Michael G.L. ("Gus") Mills, Robert J. Naiman, Norman Owen-Smith, Steward T.A. Pickett, Stuart L. Pimm, and Rober J. Scholes.
The book is an invaluable new resource for scientists and managers involved with large, conserved ecosystems as well as for conservation practitioners and others with interests in adaptive management, the societal context of conservation, links between research and management in parks, and parks/academic partnerships.
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National Parks and Protected Areas: Their Role in Environmental Protection
Manufacturer: Blackwell Publishing Limited
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Our National Parks and the Search for Sustainability
ASIN: 0865424969 |
Book Description
National Parks and Protected Areas explores the roles that national parks play in preserving and understanding biodiversity and related ecosystem processes. As the gateway to the conservation effort, parks can no longer be viewed as distinct, separate entities. They must be understood and managed in the context of their surrounding ecological and cultural landscapes. National Parks and Protected Areas outlines the reasons why ecosystem management serves as a functional paradigm for parks and protected areas and presents the supporting historical, political ecological and legal bases. It illustrates the role that these guiding principles of ecosystem management play in protecting landscapes at various scales, ranging from a complete system of protected areas to an individual park. The use of case examples provides background and understanding of the often contentious role natural processes play in park ecosystems. Recognizing that management of protected areas requires constant survelllance and monitoring to identify changes and trends, National Parks and Protected Areas clearly identifies the real value of maintaining pristine protected areas
Book Description
Using the experience of the Parks in Peril program-a wide-ranging project instituted by The Nature Conservancy and its partner organizations in Latin America and the Caribbean to foster better park management-this book presents a broad analysis of current trends in park management and the implications for biodiversity conservation. It examines the context of current park management and challenges many commonly held views from social, political, and ecological perspectives. The book argues that.
- biodiversity conservation is inherently political
- sustainable use has limitations as a primary tool for biodiversity conservation
- effective park protection requires understanding the social context at varying scales of analysis
- actions to protect parks need a level of conceptual rigor that has been absent from recent programs built around slogans and stereotypes
Nine case studies highlight the interaction of ecosystems, local peoples, and policy in park management, and describe the context of field-based conservation from the perspective of those actually implementing the programs. Parks in Peril builds from the case studies and specific park-level concerns to a synthesis of findings from the sites. The editors draw on the case studies to challenge popular conceptions about parks and describe future directions that can ensure long-term biodiversity conservation.
Throughout, contributors argue that protected areas are extremely important for the protection of biodiversity, yet such areas cannot be expected to serve as the sole means of biodiversity conservation. Requiring them to carry the entire burden of conservation is a recipe for ecological and social disaster.
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A Biological Assessment of Laguna del Tigre National Park, Peten, Guatemala (Conservation International Rapid Assessment Program)
Manufacturer: Conservation International
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ASIN: 188117333X |
Book Description
The Laguna del Tigre National Park--a critical reservoir of wetland and tropical dry forest habitats--is currently threatened by human encroachment, out-of-control fires, and hydrocarbon exploitation. This rapid assessment of the region reveals a freshwater reef, two new species of fish, and range extensions for an endemic deer mouse and an aquatic snake, as well as providing detailed observations of the endangered Morelet's crocodile and the first species list for ants and phytoplankton in the park. Of special significance are toxological studies of DNA damage to two fish species, drawing international attention to the potential effects of hydrocardon operations on the park's ecosystems.
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Ecological Dynamics on Yellowstone's Northern Range
Committee on Ungulate Management in Yellowstone National Park , and
National Research Council
Manufacturer: National Academies Press
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ASIN: 0309083451 |
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- Comprehensive edited volume on management problems surrounding Yellowstone
- Not totally for the layman
- What do the authors think about the nuclear/hazardous waste?
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The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem: Redefining America`s Wilderness Heritage
Robert B. Keiter
Manufacturer: Yale University Press
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Binding: Hardcover
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Playing God in Yellowstone: The Destruction of America's First National Park
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Decade of the Wolf: Returning the Wild to Yellowstone
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Hawks Rest: A Season in the Remote Heart of Yellowstone
ASIN: 0300049706 |
Book Description
In this important book experts in science, economics, and law discuss key resource management issues in the greater Yellowstone ecosystem-among them the management of fire, elk, wolves, and bison-using them as starting points to debate the manner in which humans should interact with the environment of this region. Generously illustrated with special archival photographs of the Yellowstone area, it will be the major source of information on this area and a valuable resource for worldwide wildland preservation for years to come.
Customer Reviews:
Comprehensive edited volume on management problems surrounding Yellowstone.......2007-05-20
Like many others,, this book examines ecosystem management in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. (Sidenote: why doesn't anyone seem to study the Greater Yosemite or Smoky Mountain Ecosystems?) The concept of "ecosystem management" has plenty of wrinkles to it - - hence the need for this book - - but the basic idea is to management both processes and outcomes at the level of an entire ecosystem instead of managing individual species.
The book focuses on three controversial issues, fire, elk and wolves. However, many other ecosystem issues appear through the book as well.
This book is explicitly multidisciplinary, with contributions from lawyers, economists, biologists, and land managers. The contributors address the kinds of topics that you'd want them to address, such as the role of top-level carnivores (wolves and bears), the consequences of elk (over)grazing, forest fire, and the like. The chapters fall into three rough groups - - the first, one the history and policy of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE) concept, varying approaches to ecosystem management, and then particular processes (especially forest fire). The book is intended for the specialist rather than the layman - - but specialists in one discipline won't have any trouble understanding contributions from other disciplines, and advanced-level undergraduates in many fields would be able to read the book.
Like any edited volume, the contributions vary significantly in quality. Some authors have a clear view of the "big picture," while others are more limited to their own specialty. The biologists tend to have the greatest tunnel vision, but John Craighead's chapter does a great job seeing biological issues in a larger historical and political context.
It's also dated in significant ways, reflecting debates over the northern range of Yellowstone in the 1980s and 1990s. Since the introduction of wolves in 1995, top-down regulation of elk by predators has supplanted the policy of "natural regulation" of elk by food supply that motivated many of these changes.
Nonetheless, if you're interested in ecosystem management, or in the management of Yellowstone National Park, you'll want to read this book. It doesn't really address topics outside of these, so the general reader will probably find it frustratingly specialized.
Not totally for the layman.......2003-11-13
The essays compiled in this book are an excellent resource for someone who is trying to understand the complex issues surrouding the protection of the Greater Yellow Ecosystem. However, a number of the essays, in providing evidence to support the arguments are geared more toward the policy maker or toward the scientist who is gathering background information on the issues.
Not all of the essays are written in such a fashion that they are beyond the comprehension of the average reader. Some essays are written clearly and do provide an effective starting point for someone coming into the field to understand the issues surrounding issues such as fire policy or wolf management. Both of which are still hot topics in the region today.
Finally, many of the essays are better for understanding a historical perspective to the issues. Wolf reintroduction has occurred and now Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho are looking to have wolves delisted. The essays on wolf management are dated enough that they are a starting point to understand the underpinnings of the issues of today, rather than where we are going in the near future.
All in all, if the reader can move past some of the more technical aspects of the book, they will have a better grasp of how and why various management issues are occuring in this wonder of nature.
What do the authors think about the nuclear/hazardous waste?.......1999-08-09
The DOE plans to build a nuclear/hazardous waste incinerator directly upwind of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. What do the authors think about this recent development?
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Greater Yellowstone's Future: Prospects for Ecosystem Science, Management, and Policy
Tim W. Clark , and
Steven C. Minta
Manufacturer: Homestead Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0943972205 |
Books:
- Electric Universe: The Shocking True Story of Electricity
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- Ethics at Work: Creating Virtue at an American Corporation
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- File: The: A Personal History
- Foreign-Exchange-Rate Forecasting with Artificial Neural Networks (International Series in Operations Research & Management Science)
- Fracture and Fatigue Control in Structures: Applications of Fracture Mechanics (Astm Manual Series)
- From Molecules to Networks: An Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
- Handbook of Laboratory Distillation, With an Introduction to Pilot Plant Distillation (Techniques & Instrumentation in Analytical Chemistry)
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