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Physics of the Impossible

The robots are coming

Michio Kaku
Allen Lane, 329pp, £20,

John Mitchell

Wednesday, 14th May 2008

John Michell on Michio Kaku's new book

My problem with this book is the author’s ‘single vision’ (for which William Blake criticised Newton). Most of his references are to science fiction, which seems to be the limit of his reading. In that world of fantasy anything goes. Scientific progress is projected forward to rationalise any miraculous effect required. The assumption behind such writing is that science will march on indefinitely, leading us to complete understanding and mastery of the universe. A corrective to that view is another recent book, The Trouble with Physics by Lee Smolin, a truly eminent scientist, who points out that for at least 30 years, despite the enormous sums of money granted to their researches, physicists have discovered nothing new at all. Countless unprovable theories have been advanced and elaborate number codes devised, but we are still nowhere near finding a theoretical model of the universe that corresponds to the real thing. Researchers must start looking elsewhere for universal truths, into the nature of consciousness, for example, and its relationship to the world at large. Fair as ever, Kaku nods kindly towards the heretics who see intelligent design behind the harmonies of nature, but the conventions of his trade prevent him from considering the likelihood of a Creator. Literalism is his keynote, but it is inappropriate to this subject, for if the universe is indeed a generated organism, partaking in consciousness and with its own moods and whims, no amount of chemistry and measuring will ever adequately describe it.

With that in mind, Plato called the traditional cosmogony of Timaeus merely ‘the most likely story’. In that remark are modesty, piety and respect for imagination in the poetic sense, far above the sterile imaginings of sci-fi mentalities. When cosmologists have their due reformation, and attune themselves to the universal system rather than trying to overpower it, perhaps they will discover the world-view we can happily live by. But that may be too fantastical, even for Dr Kaku.

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