Critical Mass (book)
Encyclopedia
Critical Mass: How One Thing Leads to Another is a non-fiction book by English chemist and physicist Philip Ball
, originally published in 2004 by William Heinemann
of Great Britain, which outlines a “physics of society”, both in an historical sense, namely those thinkers of the past, such as Thomas Hobbes
, Lewis Mumford
, Emyr Hughes, Gottfried Achenwall
, etc., who have attempted to apply (or argue against) the use of physics
, chemistry
, or mathematics
in the study of bulk social phenomenon, and in a modern sense, such as discussed in some of Ball’s various lectures on the subject of the physics of society in the early 2000s. Critical Mass was the winner of the 2005 Aventis Prize for Science Books.
sense, a subject Ball approaches using statistical mechanics
viewing people as atoms or molecules that show characteristic behaviors in bulk. The following is an excerpt of his 2003 talk on the physical modeling of society:
In his 2004 book, Ball summarizes this to the effect that "to develop a physics of society, we must take a bold step that some might regard as a leap of faith and others as preposterous idealization: particles become people." Nearly as soon as he makes gives this definition, however, Ball falls back on the two biggest hurdles to this perspective: that of the theories of being alive
and of free will
, both of which seem to contradict the physics viewpoint.
Philip Ball
Philip Ball is an English science writer. He holds a degree in chemistry from Oxford and a doctorate in physics from Bristol University. He was an editor for the journal Nature for over 10 years. He now writes a regular column in Chemistry World...
, originally published in 2004 by William Heinemann
William Heinemann
William Heinemann was the founder of the Heinemann publishing house in London.He was born in 1863, in Surbiton, Surrey. In his early life he wanted to be a musician, either as a performer or a composer, but, realising that he lacked the ability to be successful in that field, he took a job with...
of Great Britain, which outlines a “physics of society”, both in an historical sense, namely those thinkers of the past, such as Thomas Hobbes
Thomas Hobbes
Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury , in some older texts Thomas Hobbs of Malmsbury, was an English philosopher, best known today for his work on political philosophy...
, Lewis Mumford
Lewis Mumford
Lewis Mumford was an American historian, philosopher of technology, and influential literary critic. Particularly noted for his study of cities and urban architecture, he had a broad career as a writer...
, Emyr Hughes, Gottfried Achenwall
Gottfried Achenwall
Gottfried Achenwall was a German philosopher, historian, economist, jurist and statistician. He is counted among the inventors of statistics.-Biography:...
, etc., who have attempted to apply (or argue against) the use of physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
, chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
, or mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
in the study of bulk social phenomenon, and in a modern sense, such as discussed in some of Ball’s various lectures on the subject of the physics of society in the early 2000s. Critical Mass was the winner of the 2005 Aventis Prize for Science Books.
Physics of society
The outlines of Balls' Critical Mass, the most-popular book of his many noted books, beginning in various circa 2001 lectures, talks, and articles focused on what he calls a ‘physics of society’, similar to the social physics in the Auguste ComteAuguste Comte
Isidore Auguste Marie François Xavier Comte , better known as Auguste Comte , was a French philosopher, a founder of the discipline of sociology and of the doctrine of positivism...
sense, a subject Ball approaches using statistical mechanics
Statistical mechanics
Statistical mechanics or statistical thermodynamicsThe terms statistical mechanics and statistical thermodynamics are used interchangeably...
viewing people as atoms or molecules that show characteristic behaviors in bulk. The following is an excerpt of his 2003 talk on the physical modeling of society:
- “There seem to be ‘laws’ [of] social systems that have at least something of the character of natural physical laws, in that they do not yield easily to planned and arbitrary interventions. Over the past several decades, social, economic and political scientists have begun a dialogue with physical and biological scientists to try to discover whether there is truly a ‘physics of society’, and if so, what its laws and principles are. In particular, they have begun to regard complex modes of humanHumanHumans are the only living species in the Homo genus...
activity as collections of many interacting ‘agentsAgent (economics)In economics, an agent is an actor and decision maker in a model. Typically, every agent makes decisions by solving a well or ill defined optimization/choice problem. The term agent can also be seen as equivalent to player in game theory....
’ - somewhat analogous to a fluid of interacting atomAtomThe atom is a basic unit of matter that consists of a dense central nucleus surrounded by a cloud of negatively charged electrons. The atomic nucleus contains a mix of positively charged protons and electrically neutral neutrons...
s or moleculeMoleculeA molecule is an electrically neutral group of at least two atoms held together by covalent chemical bonds. Molecules are distinguished from ions by their electrical charge...
s, but within which there is scope for decision-making, learning and adaptation.”
In his 2004 book, Ball summarizes this to the effect that "to develop a physics of society, we must take a bold step that some might regard as a leap of faith and others as preposterous idealization: particles become people." Nearly as soon as he makes gives this definition, however, Ball falls back on the two biggest hurdles to this perspective: that of the theories of being alive
Alive
Alive most commonly refers to Life. It may also refer to:-Publications:* Alive: The Story of the Andes Survivors, a 1974 book by Piers Paul Read which documented the 1972 crash of Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571 in the Andes mountains...
and of free will
Free will
"To make my own decisions whether I am successful or not due to uncontrollable forces" -Troy MorrisonA pragmatic definition of free willFree will is the ability of agents to make choices free from certain kinds of constraints. The existence of free will and its exact nature and definition have long...
, both of which seem to contradict the physics viewpoint.