William Egginton, a Professor of Literature at Johns Hopkins University, explores the fascinating intersections of philosophy, physics, and literature. He discusses the connections between Kant, Heisenberg, and Borges, emphasizing the challenges of knowing reality. The conversation delves into Kant’s epistemology, the philosophical implications of quantum mechanics, and Borges’ existential narratives, like the 'Library of Babel.' Egginton also highlights the importance of humility in our understanding of knowledge and the complexities of communication in academia.
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insights INSIGHT
The Rigor of Angels
William Egginton's book, The Rigor of Angels, connects Kant, Heisenberg, and Borges.
These thinkers explore limitations on human perception of reality.
insights INSIGHT
Filtered Reality
Humans perceive reality through filters, not directly.
We often forget these filters and discuss observations as unmediated truth.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Scholarship for All
Egginton views his public-facing book as scholarly research.
Writing for broader audiences clarifies his academic thinking.
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Immanuel Kant's "Critique of Pure Reason" is a monumental work in philosophy that revolutionized epistemology and metaphysics. It explores the limits of human reason and the conditions under which knowledge is possible. Kant argues that our experience is shaped by inherent structures of the mind, known as categories of understanding. The book delves into the nature of space, time, and causality, and how these concepts structure our perception of the world. Its influence on subsequent philosophical thought is immeasurable, shaping debates on knowledge, morality, and the nature of reality.
The consolation of philosophy
Boethius
Boethius's 'Consolation of Philosophy' is a philosophical treatise written while he awaited execution. The work explores themes of fortune, adversity, and the nature of good and evil. Through a dialogue between Boethius and Lady Philosophy, the text examines the relationship between God and the world, grappling with questions of divine providence and human suffering. It offers a blend of philosophical and theological perspectives, providing solace and insight into the challenges of life. The book remains a significant work in the history of philosophy and theology.
Gödel, Escher, Bach
An Eternal Golden Braid
Douglas Hofstadter
This book by Douglas Hofstadter is a comprehensive and interdisciplinary work that explores the interrelated ideas of Kurt Gödel, M.C. Escher, and Johann Sebastian Bach. It delves into concepts such as self-reference, recursion, and the limits of formal systems, particularly through Gödel's Incompleteness Theorem. The book uses dialogues between fictional characters, including Achilles and the Tortoise, to intuitively present complex ideas before they are formally explained. It covers a wide range of topics including cognitive science, artificial intelligence, number theory, and the philosophy of mind, aiming to understand how consciousness and intelligence emerge from formal systems[2][4][5].
Physics and philosophy
The Revolution in Modern Science
Werner Heisenberg
This book, based on Heisenberg's celebrated lecture series, delves into the fundamental changes brought about by quantum mechanics and relativity. Heisenberg discusses how words and concepts familiar in daily life lose their meaning in the context of these theories, leading to profound implications for our understanding of reality. The book covers topics such as the Uncertainty Principle, the nature of space and time, and the relationship between quantum mechanics and other sciences. It is written in a clear and non-technical style, making it accessible to readers without a deep background in physics[1][4][5].
The End of Time
Julian Barbour
Uncertainty
David Krakauer
The Rigor of Angels
Borges, Heisenberg, Kant, and the Ultimate Nature of Reality
William Egginton
The Rigor of Angels delves into the paradoxes of physics, metaphysics, and literature, exploring the irreconcilable difference between objective reality and our experience of it. It examines concepts of selfhood, free will, morality, and the cosmos, highlighting the incomplete nature of human understanding and the richness of our finite experience.
It can be tempting, when first introduced to a deep concept of physics like Heisenberg's uncertainty principle, to draw grand philosophical conclusions about the impossibility of knowing anything precisely. That is generally a temptation to be resisted, just because it's so easy to do it wrong. But there is absolutely a place for a careful humanistic synthesis of these kinds of scientific ideas with other ideas, for example from philosophy or literature. That's the kind of task William Egginton takes on in his new book The Rigor of Angels, which compares the work of philosopher Immanuel Kant, physicist Werner Heisenberg, and author Jorge Luis Borges, three thinkers who grappled with limitations on our aspirations to know reality directly.
William Egginton received his Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from Stanford University. He is currently the Decker Professor in the Humanities and Director of the Alexander Grass Humanities Institute at Johns Hopkins. He is the author of numerous books on literature, literary theory, and philosophy. In addition to The Rigor of Angels, he has an upcoming book on the work of Chilean film director Alejandro Jodorowsky.
Sean Carroll's Mindscape: Science, Society, Philosophy, Culture, Arts, and Ideas 
