{"product_id":"the-emperors-new-mind-roger-penrose-9780192861986","title":"The Emperor's New Mind | Roger Penrose","description":"\u003csection class=\"product-description\" style=\"color: #1a1a1a; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.6;\"\u003e\n  \u003ch2 style=\"color: #2c3e50; font-size: 1.75em; margin-bottom: 15px; border-bottom: 2px solid #2c3e50; padding-bottom: 5px;\"\u003eThe Emperor's New Mind: Concerning Computers, Minds, and the Laws of Physics\u003c\/h2\u003e\n  \n  \u003ch3 style=\"color: #2c3e50; font-size: 1.25em; margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;\"\u003eExtended Synopsis\u003c\/h3\u003e\n  \u003cp style=\"margin-bottom: 15px;\"\u003eFor decades, the dominant narrative in artificial intelligence has been that computers will soon possess the capability to perform any task a human mind can. While computational power continues to scale, a fundamental question remains: does a machine that \"plays chess at the grandmaster level\" actually \u003cem\u003eunderstand\u003c\/em\u003e the game, or is it merely executing a complex algorithm? In this absorbing and frequently contentious work, eminent physicist and Wolf Prize winner Roger Penrose challenges the prevailing dogma, arguing that critical facets of human thinking—specifically consciousness—can never be fully emulated by current computational models.\u003c\/p\u003e\n  \u003cp style=\"margin-bottom: 15px;\"\u003ePenrose explores what physics and mathematics reveal about the nature of the mind, positing that laws even deeper than quantum mechanics are essential for understanding human cognition. To support his thesis, he leads the reader on a rigorous intellectual journey through complex numbers, Turing machines, complexity theory, Gödel’s undecidability, black holes, and the physical structure of the brain itself. This is an essential read for anyone navigating the deep philosophical and scientific debate surrounding the limits of artificial intelligence.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n  \u003ch3 style=\"color: #2c3e50; font-size: 1.25em; margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;\"\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h3\u003e\n  \u003cp style=\"margin-bottom: 15px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRoger Penrose\u003c\/strong\u003e is a renowned mathematical physicist, philosopher, and Nobel Laureate. A seminal figure in the study of general relativity and cosmology, he has made foundational contributions to our understanding of black holes and the geometric structure of the universe. He has long served as a critical voice in the discourse on the nature of consciousness and the limitations of algorithmic intelligence.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n  \u003ch3 style=\"color: #2c3e50; font-size: 1.25em; margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;\"\u003eReader Targeting\u003c\/h3\u003e\n  \u003cul style=\"margin-bottom: 20px; padding-left: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cli style=\"margin-bottom: 5px;\"\u003ePhysicists, mathematicians, and researchers studying the intersection of quantum mechanics and cognitive science.\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli style=\"margin-bottom: 5px;\"\u003ePhilosophers of mind examining the materialist vs. non-computational views of consciousness.\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli style=\"margin-bottom: 5px;\"\u003eAI practitioners and computer scientists interested in the theoretical barriers to strong AI.\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli style=\"margin-bottom: 5px;\"\u003eAcademics and students of the history of mathematics and scientific theory.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n  \u003ch3 style=\"color: #2c3e50; font-size: 1.25em; margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;\"\u003eBibliographic \u0026amp; Physical Specifications\u003c\/h3\u003e\n  \u003ctable style=\"width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 25px; font-size: 0.95em; border: 1px solid #e0e0e0;\"\u003e\n    \u003ctbody\u003e\n      \u003ctr style=\"border-bottom: 1px solid #e0e0e0;\"\u003e\n        \u003cth style=\"text-align: left; padding: 10px; background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #2c3e50; width: 40%;\"\u003ePublisher\u003c\/th\u003e\n        \u003ctd style=\"padding: 10px; color: #1a1a1a;\"\u003eOxford University Press\u003c\/td\u003e\n      \u003c\/tr\u003e\n      \u003ctr style=\"border-bottom: 1px solid #e0e0e0;\"\u003e\n        \u003cth style=\"text-align: left; padding: 10px; background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #2c3e50;\"\u003ePublication Date\u003c\/th\u003e\n        \u003ctd style=\"padding: 10px; color: #1a1a1a;\"\u003eMarch 04, 1999\u003c\/td\u003e\n      \u003c\/tr\u003e\n      \u003ctr style=\"border-bottom: 1px solid #e0e0e0;\"\u003e\n        \u003cth style=\"text-align: left; padding: 10px; background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #2c3e50;\"\u003eEdition Details\u003c\/th\u003e\n        \u003ctd style=\"padding: 10px; color: #1a1a1a;\"\u003eReprint Edition (With a New Preface by the Author)\u003c\/td\u003e\n      \u003c\/tr\u003e\n      \u003ctr style=\"border-bottom: 1px solid #e0e0e0;\"\u003e\n        \u003cth style=\"text-align: left; padding: 10px; background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #2c3e50;\"\u003eFormat \u0026amp; Binding\u003c\/th\u003e\n        \u003ctd style=\"padding: 10px; color: #1a1a1a;\"\u003ePaperback (Perfect bound softcover with high-density laminated cardstock)\u003c\/td\u003e\n      \u003c\/tr\u003e\n      \u003ctr style=\"border-bottom: 1px solid #e0e0e0;\"\u003e\n        \u003cth style=\"text-align: left; padding: 10px; background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #2c3e50;\"\u003eISBN-13 \/ ISBN-10\u003c\/th\u003e\n        \u003ctd style=\"padding: 10px; color: #1a1a1a; font-weight: bold;\"\u003e9780192861986 \/ 0192861980\u003c\/td\u003e\n      \u003c\/tr\u003e\n      \u003ctr style=\"border-bottom: 1px solid #e0e0e0;\"\u003e\n        \u003cth style=\"text-align: left; padding: 10px; background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #2c3e50;\"\u003ePage Count\u003c\/th\u003e\n        \u003ctd style=\"padding: 10px; color: #1a1a1a;\"\u003e640 (Extensive mathematical proofs, historical physics charts, and index)\u003c\/td\u003e\n      \u003c\/tr\u003e\n      \u003ctr style=\"border-bottom: 1px solid #e0e0e0;\"\u003e\n        \u003cth style=\"text-align: left; padding: 10px; background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #2c3e50;\"\u003eIllustrations\u003c\/th\u003e\n        \u003ctd style=\"padding: 10px; color: #1a1a1a;\"\u003eYes (Line drawings, mathematical charts, topological models, fractal diagrams)\u003c\/td\u003e\n      \u003c\/tr\u003e\n      \u003ctr style=\"border-bottom: 1px solid #e0e0e0;\"\u003e\n        \u003cth style=\"text-align: left; padding: 10px; background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #2c3e50;\"\u003eDimensions \u0026amp; Weight\u003c\/th\u003e\n        \u003ctd style=\"padding: 10px; color: #1a1a1a;\"\u003e7.72 x 5.08 x 1.30 inches | 17.6 oz (500 grams)\u003c\/td\u003e\n      \u003c\/tr\u003e\n      \u003ctr style=\"border-bottom: 1px solid #e0e0e0;\"\u003e\n        \u003cth style=\"text-align: left; padding: 10px; background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #2c3e50;\"\u003eBISAC Categories\u003c\/th\u003e\n        \u003ctd style=\"padding: 10px; color: #1a1a1a;\"\u003eSCIENCE \/ Physics \/ Mathematical \u0026amp; Computational\u003cbr\u003eCOMPUTERS \/ Artificial Intelligence \/ General\u003cbr\u003ePHILOSOPHY \/ Mind \u0026amp; Body\u003c\/td\u003e\n      \u003c\/tr\u003e\n      \u003ctr style=\"border-bottom: 1px solid #e0e0e0;\"\u003e\n        \u003cth style=\"text-align: left; padding: 10px; background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #2c3e50;\"\u003eBIC \/ Thema Classifications\u003c\/th\u003e\n        \u003ctd style=\"padding: 10px; color: #1a1a1a;\"\u003ePHM (Mathematical physics)\u003cbr\u003eUYQ (Artificial intelligence)\u003c\/td\u003e\n      \u003c\/tr\u003e\n      \u003ctr style=\"border-bottom: 1px solid #e0e0e0;\"\u003e\n        \u003cth style=\"text-align: left; padding: 10px; background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #2c3e50;\"\u003eLC Classification\u003c\/th\u003e\n        \u003ctd style=\"padding: 10px; color: #1a1a1a;\"\u003eQ335 .P46\u003c\/td\u003e\n      \u003c\/tr\u003e\n      \u003ctr\u003e\n        \u003cth style=\"text-align: left; padding: 10px; background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #2c3e50;\"\u003eDewey Decimal\u003c\/th\u003e\n        \u003ctd style=\"padding: 10px; color: #1a1a1a;\"\u003e006.3\u003c\/td\u003e\n      \u003c\/tr\u003e\n    \u003c\/tbody\u003e\n  \u003c\/table\u003e\n\n  \u003ch3 style=\"color: #2c3e50; font-size: 1.25em; margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;\"\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h3\u003e\n  \u003cp style=\"margin-bottom: 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs this book only for physicists?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhile the content is rigorous, it is written for a broad audience of \"serious interest.\" Penrose guides the reader through complex concepts, making it accessible to mathematicians, philosophers, and AI researchers alike, though it does not shy away from dense scientific proofs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n  \u003cp style=\"margin-bottom: 15px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes Penrose believe AI will never be possible?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePenrose argues that current algorithmic approaches are insufficient for genuine human-like consciousness. He contends that our understanding of physical laws—specifically quantum mechanics—is incomplete, and that a new, deeper physics will be required to account for the phenomenon of the mind.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n  \u003cscript type=\"application\/ld+json\"\u003e\n  {\n    \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n    \"@graph\": [\n      {\n        \"@type\": [\"Book\", \"Product\"],\n        \"@id\": \"https:\/\/bustdownbooks.com\/products\/the-emperors-new-mind-roger-penrose-9780192861986#book\",\n        \"name\": \"The Emperor's New Mind: Concerning Computers, Minds, and the Laws of Physics\",\n        \"author\": {\n          \"@type\": \"Person\",\n          \"name\": \"Roger Penrose\"\n        },\n        \"isbn\": \"9780192861986\",\n        \"sku\": \"9780192861986\",\n        \"mpn\": \"0192861980\",\n        \"numberOfPages\": \"640\",\n        \"publisher\": {\n          \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n          \"name\": \"Oxford University Press\"\n        },\n        \"datePublished\": \"1999-03-04\",\n        \"bookFormat\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\/Paperback\",\n        \"inLanguage\": \"English\",\n        \"description\": \"Roger Penrose argues that human consciousness cannot be emulated by computers, exploring quantum mechanics, physics, and the nature of the mind itself.\",\n        \"educationalLevel\": \"Academic \/ Professional\",\n        \"audience\": {\n          \"@type\": \"EducationalAudience\",\n          \"educationalRole\": \"Professional \/ Academic \/ General Reader\"\n        },\n        \"offers\": {\n          \"@type\": \"Offer\",\n          \"price\": \"15.99\",\n          \"priceCurrency\": \"USD\",\n          \"availability\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\/InStock\",\n          \"priceValidUntil\": \"2027-12-31\",\n          \"seller\": {\n            \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n            \"name\": \"Bust-Down Books, LTD.\"\n          }\n        },\n        \"about\": [\n          { \"@type\": \"Thing\", \"name\": \"Physics\" },\n          { \"@type\": \"Thing\", \"name\": \"Artificial Intelligence\" },\n          { \"@type\": \"Thing\", \"name\": \"Consciousness\" }\n        ]\n      },\n      {\n        \"@type\": \"FAQPage\",\n        \"@id\": \"https:\/\/bustdownbooks.com\/products\/the-emperors-new-mind-roger-penrose-9780192861986#faq\",\n        \"mainEntity\": [\n          {\n            \"@type\": \"Question\",\n            \"name\": \"Is this book only for physicists?\",\n            \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n              \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n              \"text\": \"While the content is rigorous, it is written for a broad audience of 'serious interest.' 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